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Chapter 87: Which One Would You Choose?
Kaifeng
Phoenix Tower (Brothel)
The fabric store owner, Jang Munho, poured a bottle of liquor into Chu Yeopjin’s glass.
"Drink, brother. Let’s drink until we die. What’s so good about life anyway?"
The liquor spilled from Chu Yeopjin’s glass, as he seemed slightly drunk.
Seeing this, Jang Munho finally cursed. "Damn it, what the hell!"
He had been living under the same roof with Im Jiryeong for five years.
After spending so much time together, one inevitably develops feelings.
Moreover, Im Jiryeong was not an ordinary woman. Despite having two children, she was more beautiful and radiant than his own wife.
That’s why he pressured his wife several times to accept the idea of living together.
At first, his wife flatly refused, but lately, she began to smile whenever their eyes met. Perhaps she was feeling lonely now that the children had grown up.
But then, just as he was about to achieve his goal, a man appeared.
It was as if he had dropped a juicy fruit that he held in his hand.
It was a feeling of loss, frustration, and anguish that he hadn’t felt in decades.
Chu Yeopjin, with his sharp gaze, laughed as he raised his glass.
"What’s wrong, brother? Is something bothering you?"
"No, there’s nothing. Do you need a reason to drink? Damn it!"
Despite his words, Jang Munho let out a heavy sigh.
Chu Yeopjin asked in an insinuating tone.
"Why? Who has bothered you so much? Tell me."
"Ha!"
Jang Munho looked at Chu Yeopjin with bloodshot eyes.
Chu Yeopjin was a bodyguard for the Sahae Chamber of Commerce, known for his brutality. Even the Wanderers of Kaifeng avoided meeting his gaze.
They met through the introduction of the Head of Sahae, and Jang Munho often invited him to drink and have fun with women. Although each meeting cost a fortune, he never regretted spending money on him.
Why?
Because no one caused trouble in his store, and he could collect outstanding debts easily. Just by associating with Chu Yeopjin.
Perhaps Chu Yeopjin had some solution.
The very thought gave him a renewed sense of hope.
"The truth is…"
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The next morning, Chu Yeopjin went directly to see the Bangju, the Head of Sahae Chamber of Commerce, Sang Jaeyong.
"What’s the matter?"
"It’s about Jang Munho, the fabric store owner. Last night, he made an interesting request."
"Tell me."
"There’s a woman he’s been taking care of. Her husband killed someone and fled twelve years ago. Recently, he was about to accept her as a concubine, but the man who had abandoned his family returned."
"Heh."
Sang Jaeyong laughed and asked.
"So he wants us to eliminate the husband?"
"Yes."
Chu Yeopjin gave a faint smile.
Jang Munho had asked for help so he could live with the woman, but essentially, it was the same.
"I was thinking about how to take over that fabric store, and now he’s offering it on a silver platter."
"But there’s a small problem."
"What is it?"
"The man who returned is one of the two you recently hired."
"You mean the Wanderers I sent to Yonghyeeru?"
"Yes, it’s Pung Yeoncho."
"Hmmm! Pung Yeoncho, huh? If it were you, who would you choose between Pung Yeoncho and the fabric store?"
"Obviously, the fabric store. There are many Wanderers who can take care of the brothel, but there’s only one fabric store."
"Do you have a good plan?"
"Haha. Isn’t that what I do best? I’ll kill Pung Yeoncho and reveal that it was Jang Munho who orchestrated it. That way, the fabric store will be yours."
"Hmmm, such dangerous words! I don’t want to know anything. Do whatever you want."
Sang Jaeyong withdrew discreetly.
Chu Yeopjin nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"I’ll take care of everything. I just need you to advance me five hundred taels of silver."
Sang Jaeyong placed a box of silver on the table and said.
"Just so you know, I have nothing to do with this. If anyone asks about the money, I’ll say it was stolen. Understand?"
"Yes."
Chu Yeopjin smiled as he grabbed the box.
Merchants always protect themselves at crucial moments, allowing people like him to live comfortably. He could only be grateful.
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Kaifeng
Tianxiang Inn
Chu Yeopjin entered the Tianxiang Inn with the box in his hand.
It was too early for lunch, so the restaurant was empty.
He headed to the innermost room and sat comfortably.
Soon after, a rat-like servant approached with a water jug and said with a smile.
"Hehe, Great Warrior Chu, the food in this room is so good one could die for it. Did you know?"
"Idiot. Is this the first time we’re dealing? Go and call the Third Young Master."
"Did you say the Third Young Master?"
"Yes. Do you have hearing problems?"
"Yes, yes."
The servant withdrew, bowing.
Soon after, a man in his thirties entered the room.
With a hazy look, he glanced at Chu Yeopjin before sitting in front of him.
"The Killer Chu Yeopjin. As you know, we don’t take orders in the Tianxiang Inn’s kitchen."
"Third Young Master, I’m not interested in human flesh."
At that moment, Third Young Master Shim Yeongchun’s eyes flashed with a cold light.
"You’d better watch your words."
The Tianxiang Inn is an underground place that offers human flesh to a very select clientele. But they don’t just stop there; they also accept assassination requests.
Of the four noble halls of the Tianxiang Inn, known as the Four Knights, the Bamboo Hall handled such jobs. The head of the Bamboo Hall was Shim Yeongchun, the Third Young Master of Tianxiang Inn.
When Shim Yeongchun released his murderous intent, Chu Yeopjin froze for a moment.
Shim Yeongchun’s nickname was Ghost Sword.
He was called that because it was said he snatched lives like a ghost.
"Hehe, don’t get nervous. Who do you want us to cook for you?"
Unless specifically requested, the assassins of the Bamboo Hall delivered the bodies of their victims to the Tianxiang Inn. This way, no trace of the victim remained, thus achieving a double purpose.
"Pung Yeoncho, who’s in charge of security at Yonghyeeru. He’s always with Tak Gomyung, so be careful."
"Hmm! Yonghyeeru belongs to the Sahae Chamber of Commerce, and you want us to kill one of their bodyguards?"
"The Bamboo Hall only kills and collects, right?"
"Agreed. Where is he from?"
"Both learned martial arts from a master in Waryong Manor."
"You mean the Waryong Manor in Luoyang?"
"Yes."
Shim Yeongchun, with his eyes half-closed, thought for a moment before speaking.
"Seven hundred taels of silver."
"Do you take me for a fool? Seven hundred taels to kill a simple Wanderer?"
"It’s not one, it’s two. How are we supposed to kill just one when they’re always together?"
"Fine, let’s make it six hundred taels."
Seeing the logic in Shim Yeongchun’s words, Chu Yeopjin conceded.
However, Shim Yeongchun didn’t move.
"Seven hundred taels. If you find it expensive, do it yourself. We handle the bodies impeccably."
Chu Yeopjin sighed, resigned.
It was a deal where he had no choice but to accept the conditions from the beginning.
"Agreed."
"Four hundred taels in advance, three hundred upon completion."
Chu Yeopjin took out four hundred taels from a box and pushed them towards the Third Young Master.
"When will you start?"
"They won’t survive more than seven days."
"Agreed. I’ll give you the rest of the money when the job is done."
"If you hide or lie about any detail, neither you nor the Sahae Chamber of Commerce will come out unscathed."
"Don’t worry, that won’t happen."
"…"
Shim Yeongchun stared at Chu Yeopjin before silently leaving.
Chu Yeopjin muttered to himself as he was left alone.
"Damn it, spending so much money on two Wanderers…"
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Henan Province
Yichuan County
On the road stretching towards Luoyang, two men were walking.
Yeon Jeokha and the self-proclaimed Old Dao of Nine Heavens, Shim Tong, had left Mount Wudang, the sacred place of Taoism.
"Young Master, what did you say that sword technique is called?"
"Heavenly Sword Technique."
"Ah, right. It’s so strange that I can’t get used to it. Didn’t you say that technique is in the Wudang Sect, Mount Hua Sect, and Quanzhen Sect?"
"Yes."
Yeon Jeokha replied distractedly.
Since they left Mount Wudang, Shim Tong hadn’t stopped asking questions.
Why don’t they practice these martial arts in the Taoist sects?
Are the sword techniques taught in the three sects exactly the same?
Could there be small differences?
Even if they have different forms, if they contain the formulas, is it considered Heavenly Sword Technique?
And so on…
As expected, Shim Tong came back with another similar question.
"With such a good sword technique, why do they only teach Tai Chi Swordsmanship, Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, and Supreme Infinite Swordsmanship?"
"I’ve told you many times. It’s because it can’t be mastered. It’s a martial art impossible for the human body."
"But you understood it after hearing it once, Young Master."
"What I understood and what they know may be different. After all, I only heard the formulas. I’ve told you many times. I’m a fraud. Don’t compare me with them."
Tired of hearing Yeon Jeokha belittle himself, Shim Tong quickly changed the topic.
"Wow, autumn is already ending. When we get to Luoyang, it might be cold."
"For you, Old Shim, it will be colder because you have no flesh."
"Hehe, fortunately, I don’t feel cold or heat because of my resilient body."
"Even so, you should wrap up in winter. That’s part of winter’s charm."
"Ah, right."
As the two joked meaninglessly, a cart approached quickly from behind.
Although they should have slowed down upon seeing people on the road, the cart didn’t.
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong hurriedly stepped off the path.
Quickly…
The cart passed, raising a cloud of dust.
"Tch! What kind of people are they? Young Master, are you okay?"
"Tch! What rude people! I hope they get struck by lightning."
Yeon Jeokha cursed loudly.
After the dust cloud settled, the two began walking again with dejected expressions.
Perhaps it was the cart that passed like the wind, but both seemed to have lost their spirits.
After walking for about half an hour, they found a rundown tavern.
Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong looked at each other simultaneously.
"Young Master, why don’t we eat something before continuing?"
"Tch, alright. I don’t have the strength to keep walking."
As they approached the tavern, their expressions twisted even more.
The cart that sped by was parked next to the tavern.
Shim Tong clenched his teeth.
In the past, he would have stormed into the tavern and killed the driver and the owner without hesitation.
Yeon Jeokha also looked at the cart with venomous eyes.
"Old Shim."
"Yes?"
"Next time, we’ll travel by cart."
"…Yes."
Shim Tong, who had responded with a dejected expression, began to chuckle.
He didn’t expect Yeon Jeokha to suggest traveling by cart in such a situation.