Chapter 24
So Gi-cheon ran towards Geom Woo-bin who came out of the crowd.
“Older brother!”
So Gi-cheon begged every time Geom Woo-bin came out of town because of the order he had received from No Dae-sul.
He could’ve refused even once, but Geom Woo-bin gave So Gi-cheon a coin every day without showing any displeasure.
Soon, So Gi-cheon called Geom Woo-bin ‘brother’ and it became a quite friendly relationship.
“Hey punk, how can a beggar fight?”
“I was just going to hit them if they hit me. But, they broke my begging bowl. Whew!”
“Punk, breaking the begging bowl of the beggar is pride!”
Geom Woo-bin playfully smacked his forehead with his fingers and said Lee Pil-ryeong.
“Looking at it seems like the Budokan guys over there made a mistake first, so let’s end this.”
“Jeez, you’re unbelievable.”
“They say that the Hangzhou Sa-seon’s nephew Soju-seon seems to be matured than his age, it really seems like it. Do you want to get hit instead of the beggar? I mean, rather than beating up a beggar, I too want to give a hand to someone who has a little name.” Said Lee Pil-ryeong looking aghast.
“I apologize. So how about you just go back at this point? I think you’ve saved enough of your face.”
Lee Pil-ryeong looked aghast.
“Did you mean that you’re letting me off the hook right now?”
Geom Woo-bin did not answer, but everyone knew it was affirmative.
“During that time, I was also curious about how strong is the Hangzhou Sa-seon, who is highly praised by people. If I beat you to death they would come looking for me, I see.”
“That’s quite pitiful.”
“Even though I’ve said this much, don’t regret that you pounced on me, I’ll finish it off in three moves so that you don’t feel you lost because of bad luck.” Said Geom Woo-bin smacking his lips.
If anyone would’ve spoken so confidently, Lee Pil-ryeong would’ve been wary.
However, his opponent was just a ten-year-old kid.
He has a big build than his peers, so he looks like he is twelve years old, however, it doesn’t mean he’s not a kid.
So, Lee Pil-ryeong’s anger grew bigger.
“Looks like you’ve never met scary people before. I’ll firmly fix your behavior today!”
Lee Pil-ryeong reached out his hand to grab Geom Woo-bin by his nape.
Without the belief that he was absolutely strong, he would’ve not come out.
Lee Pil-ryeong thought that he was holding Geom Woo-bin by his nape.
But, his giant body spun around and around and was thudded onto the ground. Geom Woo-bin’s voice pierced through the screams that were caused by the pain he felt on his back.
“It’s the first move… You aren’t already giving up wisely, are you?”
He could see up Geom Woo-bin’s grinning face.
It’s the first time since the age of ten that he was scattered not knowing what happened. Lee Pil-ryeong stood up suddenly crackling through his teeth! The sound of teeth grinding echoed.
“Alright. Were you a kid who believed in one move? I will fight you properly now!”
Lee Pil-ryeong thought he was going to kill Geom Woo-bin.
His sidekick approached Geom Woo-bin’s face. It was a force that could even break a cow’s rib.
However, it would be pointless if he missed it.
Geom Woo-bin missed Lee Pil-ryeong’s attack by turning his body around and smacked his ribs.
Smack!
Lee Pil-ryeong yelled out a sound as if he was out of breath, and fell onto his knees with a plonk.
“Second move.”
“You son of a bitch!”
Lee Pil-ryeong attacked Geom Woo-bin with his entire body by holding in his pain.
Geom Woo-bin’s knee was thudded with his chin. That moment, he couldn’t even hear Geom Woo-bin say ‘third move’ because he had lost his mind.
The giant guy collapsed and the surrounding was silenced for a moment.
It was a silence caused by an outcome that no one expected. However, soon, someone applauded, and it already spread like a contagious disease.
“The nephew of Hangzhou Sa-seon, indeed!”
“They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but even the nephew is amazing!”
“That man was going around acting arrogantly just because he’s using a few of his powers, so it served him right! Soju-seon! You did well!”
Geom Woo-bin took the liquor bag that he had taken off and squeezed into the crowd with an embarrassed expression.
“Older brother!”
So Gi-cheon came rushing after him and lifted his thumb.
“Older brother, as expected you’re amazing! If it’s not for you, I would’ve been beaten up by those fellows until I was soaked in blood!”
“Do you know why I fought him instead of you?”
“To save me….”
“I indeed saved you, but it wasn’t because of Lee Pil-ryeong. Are you going to keep lying to me? I know that you’re capable enough to beat up Lee Pil-ryeong. The problem is, if you defeat Lee Pil-ryeong it will be difficult to beg as a young beggar. That was the reason I had to fight Lee Pil-ryeong instead of you.”
So Gi-cheon couldn’t help but feel a prick of conscience.
The training of the past two years made So Gi-cheon properly open his eyes to martial arts.
He could fight even three Lee Pil-ryeongs if pounced since his talents are outstanding to the extent No Dae-sul was surprised.
However, no one noticed that So Gi-cheon was practicing martial arts. It was a complete secret that the little beggar of Hangzhou became an official student of the chieftain of the Beggar’s sect and is studying martial arts.
It was a very conscious move of Geom Woo-bin, but Geom Woo-bin, to whom it must be hidden, was aware of So Gi-cheon learning martial arts.
“Old… Older brother, you are also quite…. Don’t you know the Budokan youngsters, how can I defeat Lee Pil-ryeong?”
“If you have to hide it, there must be a good reason. But, just promise me one thing.”
“What should I promise?”
“Don’t break the trust you have with me. Will you be able to keep it?”
So Gi-cheon couldn’t answer.
Just saying ‘yes’ with a lie is enough. However, looking into Geom Woo-bin’s clear black and white eyes, he couldn’t bear to say a lie.
Geom Woo-bin looked at So Gi-cheon for a moment and said patting his shoulder.
“If you have trouble answering right away, I’ll give you time to think. If you think you can’t keep that promise even after this just pretend you don’t know me. Understand?”
Geom Woo-bin who didn’t wait for So Gi-cheon to answer, headed towards the Wolha Kisaeng house.
Soon, So Gi-cheon also disappeared among the crowd.
Geom Woo-bin could guess So Gi-cheon’s standard just by looking at the movement he was facing backward a little while ago.
Even if he had that many skills there must be a reason he’s hiding it.
Geom Woo-bin didn’t bother to dig up that secret.
Anyone could have secrets, and it is that person’s right to keep that secret.
So, instead of asking what that secret is, Geom Woo-bin spoke of sincerity. If So Gi-cheon’s secret affects his trust in him, then he would no longer appear in front of him.
Wouldn’t that be enough?
While thinking about So Gi-cheon Geom Woo-bin belatedly discovered the piece of paper Ha Seok-mun held out.
“This is….”
“From today onwards, I think I’ll have to pay for the drinks in payment notes instead of silver taels.”
“Payment notes?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. It is a payment note with the highest credibility in Zhongyuan, so, it can be exchanged into silver taels anywhere.”
“But, why payment notes suddenly…?”
Ha Seok-mun let out a deep sigh.
“These days, Hangzhou is short of silver taels. I have no choice because 70% of the customers come expecting to pay with payment notes. It’s strange, isn’t it? Where could’ve all those silver taels gone?”
In an instant, a thought popped into Geom Woo-bin’s mind.
“A payment note is good too. Then, I’ll see you in five days!”
Geom Woo-bin greeted and rushed home.
“Big master! Welcome home!”
Their excessive manners weren’t easily accustomed. They said, big master!
Despite them being workers, they didn’t feel good about addressing a ten-year-old child that way.
“Abolition, are you here? I heard you had quite a fight on the street today?”
Do Pyeong-su grinned as if he was in a good mood.
As rumors speak faster than words, it seems the fact that he reamed Lee Pil-ryeong out had already reached the priests.
“I shouldn’t have harmed the kind priests’ reputation. However, I feel a little uncomfortable with those people calling me big master.”
“Sorry? Our abolition should not feel uncomfortable. Should I ask them to call you big old man? What’s a better honorific than big old man?”
“Abolition, don’t worry a lot about those little fellows.” Said Seo Seok-san coming out.
To be honest, during that time, Geom Woo-bin was not in a position to pay attention to Se-hwa and the three wicked ones of Jiangxi. It was because just martial arts training was always difficult within an inch of his life.
However, no matter how wicked are they, they’re people who live together under the same roof.
Isn’t it polite to treat them as if they don’t exist?
“What are their names?”
“Names?”
Oh Tong-su opened his mouth.
“My name is Oh….”
However, only one last name was told, and it was blocked by Yeon Geum-hong.
“They’re not that worth it for you to pay attention to them. Nevertheless, if you want to call them, then, that fellow is dog poo, that fellow is cow dung, that punk is horse dung, and that kid is since she’s a woman she’s bird poo, call them that way.”
“There is a universe of shit inside the house. We’ll have to quickly clean up those stinky poos.” Said Seo Seok-san holding back his laughter.
“I’ll solve this problem in a while, and can I see you priests’ rooms a little?”
“Our rooms? Of course, you can see it to your heart’s content.”
“Then I’ll see it a little.”
Geom Woo-bin opened Seo Seok-san’s room first.
Someone said that he has to sleep in a good bed for his waist, so only the bed was large and a good one was placed in the middle of the room.
And around that bed, there were small and large pouches all over the place. He also saw silver taels spill from an open pouch and was rolling on the floor.
Do Pyeong-su’s room also wasn’t any different.
It was simply a lake of silver taels scum.
Geom Woo-bin opened Yeon Geum-hong’s room and his eyes were dazzling and it was narrowed. Unlike the two others, Yeon Geum-hong had stacked the silver taels neatly on one side of the wall.
“I like that it’s bright. It’s better than lighting a candle.”
But, the number of silver taels in Jang Man-dok’s room was ridiculously small.
“Priest Jang Man-dok, did you use the silver taels?”
Jang Man-dok shook his head and entered the kitchen.
Next to the cooking fireplace, the silver taels were just rolling turned into a blackish color.
“Silver is good to remove toxins of medicine.”
If the blood-lions’ sense of money had been at least one-tenth of martial arts, they would’ve become the richest people on earth.
“Since we are not using the money we earn, the silver taels are not circulating in Hangzhou.”
“Sorry? Don’t the silver taels just be formed?”
“How can it just be formed?”
“We can dig it out of the ground.”
At Seo Seok-san’s words, the other three nodded as if they agreed to him. He thought that there would be no point in explaining to them how money is circulated.
“Nevertheless, we need to spend a little money.”
“On what?”
At Do Pyeong-su’s question, Geom Woo-bin wore an awkward expression.
Geom Woo-bin’s biggest expense was the contribution he makes to ten places.
Other than that, they settle it by spending small amounts on food and clothes, but where are they going to spend such a large amount of money?
As Geom Woo-bin turned, Se-hwa and the three wicked ones of Jiangxi came to his mind.
‘Right! As we have plenty of food and clothes now we have to change into better accommodation!’
“We need to expand our house a little.”
Do Pyeong-su wore a puzzled expression.
“Is the house small now?”
For Do Pyeong-su, it was enough if he had a flat space to lie down, a brewery to brew liquor, and a place for Geom Woo-bin’s seniority.
So, the house they live in right now felt somewhat spacious.
“New family members have also arrived.”
“They’re people who would be gone any moment, so don’t worry about them.”
“They’ll be gone any moment?”
“Ah, no!”
Yeon Geum-hong turned up.
“If you want to build it bigger, then we should do it that way. Just give us fifteen days. As we will build it quickly.”
“You priests don’t need to suffer. Let’s buy the land, materials and use workers to build it. If we do so the money would be spent.”
As they decided to do so, another problem arose.
In truth, this house was built without a permit and they don’t even know whose land is this.
Fortunately, no one showed up yet, but they didn’t know when the owner would show up and ask them to demolish it.
In case such a person shows up, he would surely be humiliated by the blood-lions while trying to find his right.
So, they had to find new land.
The first thing they have to solve is the location.
With the money the priests and Geom Woo-bin have, they can build a huge manor in the middle of the most expensive land in Hangzhou.
Of course, he had that thought at first.
But, Seo Seok-san was against it.
“If it’s in the middle of the town everyone would be convenient, right? The abolition doesn’t need to travel far to deliver liquor.”
Among the four of them, the smart Yeon Geum-hong and Seo Seok-san collided.
“Of course, it is. However, there are downsides as much as it’s convenient. The more we are in a place where there are many people, the more often the abolition is exposed to danger. And the time he delivers liquor once every five days is the only rest time for the abolition”
“That’s true.”
“Certainly, if we are in the town, the guys who attack the brewery might not even come because many eyes are watching.”
“Huh?”
“The house will be expanded and there will be an increase in the production of liquor since the brewery will be bigger. The liquor is sold not only in Hangzhou but also in other places, then what would happen?”
“There’ll be places that’ll be ruined because of the Sagi wine, right?”
“If we fail, wouldn’t people like the three wicked ones of Jiangxi come looking for us by having grudges? The three wicked ones of Jiangxi didn’t have murderous intentions, but will those who come after this be the same? The world is full of bad guys, isn’t it?”
The faces of the three who were listening turned red.
“I see! Knowing that, the fire moths will come flying.”
“Of course. We have to be in a secluded place so that it’s easy for them to fly here.”
Do Pyeong-su let out a smile full of anticipation.
“Hahaha! Let’s increase the production of liquor by building the brewery bigger so that many people like that would be crowded.”