Episode 23. Chief of the Construction Division
There’s always work for builders in the martial world.
That’s what happens when sects have their headquarters smashed by enemies every other year.
Formations, trap mechanisms, hidden passages—those are all part of construction. Matching them with the terrain and weaving them into the building isn’t the job of people who only know how to swing their fists.
That’s all the domain of builders.
And whenever a big war breaks out and a sect puts its whole existence on the line, it’s common for their main hall or branch to burn to the ground. Smaller factions usually end there, but great clans and famous sects always shovel mountains of money into rebuilding something even grander.
So in this world, architects earn their own kind of fame, and those who specialize in mechanisms and devices are treated as master craftsmen.
Yeon Ja-seong was one of those masters—back when I was known as the Hao Sect Leader, he was counted among the top three “martial-world architects”, constantly called in for massive projects.
Now, like me, he was twenty years younger.
When he came over and bowed, the only thing that made him look older than me was his sunburnt, dark face. Otherwise, he looked a year or two younger.
Yeon Ja-seong looked me straight in the eye.
“I’m Yeon Ja-seong. I was introduced by Uncle Geum Cheol-yong and put in charge of this job.”
I grinned and welcomed him.
“I’m the owner of Jahak Inn.”
That’s how I introduced myself, but his response was different.
“Our Sect Leader is even younger than I’d heard.”
“‘Our Sect Leader’?”
Cha Seong-tae and I exchanged a glance. Yeon Ja-seong, face set with earnest determination, continued,
“Uncle Geum insisted I address you as Sect Leader. He said if I complete this project well, the position of Chief of the Construction Division will be mine. And that I’ll never have to pay tribute to any sect. Is that true, Sect Leader?”
I nodded.
“It’s true.”
Yeon smiled brightly.
“Good. I like that very much. I’ll build you a fine Jahak Inn, and in return, I’ll take the chief’s seat in the Construction Division. I have big ambitions when it comes to building.”
Good. He was more than welcome.
And I knew better than anyone just how big those ambitions were.
When I smiled, Yeon looked back over the open lot.
“The inn that used to stand here was small, but the plot is wide and well-situated. Great spot for building. Being on a gentle rise, the view at dusk is excellent too. Anyway, you can leave everything about construction to me, Sect Leader.”
He turned back to me, almost as if confirming one last thing.
“I’ve heard that, by your order, you’ll protect the men who break their backs on these sites. Is that so?”
When I nodded, Yeon’s smile broadened, clear and open.
“Since I’m building under the Sect Leader’s name, I made sure to bring the price down as much as possible. Just wanted that on the record.”
That line made both me and Cha Seong-tae laugh.
“Hahaha…”
Yeon pointed toward one side of the lot.
“We’ll be putting up a temporary barracks over there. It’ll be our lodging and mess hall. We’ve got basic cooking tools, but there’s a limit to what we can make every day. If the Sect Leader could, every now and then, treat us workers and me to a proper meal out of your own pocket, I’d be grateful.”
He was a refreshingly straightforward guy.
He asked for what he needed openly and without shame.
In the martial world, if your words aren’t clear and direct, you don’t live long. Yeon Ja-seong understood that instinctively.
And martial artists do respect people who speak plainly.
There are times when the black path doesn’t kill a righteous man, and the righteous path spares a villain—usually when they like the other guy’s character.
With a personality like Yeon’s, it’s no wonder he kept building relationships in the martial world and kept climbing.
He was a sharp one.
Just from talking, I knew I had to seat him as Chief of the Construction Division and never let any other power steal him away.
I nodded, looking him over.
You’re Hao Sect now.
Then I gave the order.
“Seong-tae.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“Every evening, split the builders between Maehwa, Ehwa, and Siwha Houses and treat them there. Best food on the menu, every time. And where are the flunkies who burned the inn?”
“I already told them the Sect Leader ordered them to do all the worst jobs. Don’t worry. As the head of the Life Division, I’ll personally see to that.”
Yeon blinked and looked at him.
“Life Division?”
Feeling some competitive spark, Cha nodded.
“I forgot to mention. I’m the head of the Life Division. Think of it as the branch that covers the people working in the pleasure houses.”
Yeon nodded in understanding.
“Ah, I see. Got it. In any case, I’m below our Jaha Sect Leader, right?”
Jaha Sect Leader—another new way to call me.
Cha agreed right away.
“Of course. Life Division, Construction Division, Iron Division… we’re all allied branches under Hao Sect.”
I asked,
“When did you two start talking so casually?”
Caught out, Yeon scratched his head.
“Ah, Brother Seong-tae is older than me, so he told me to just speak comfortably. Sect Leader, you’re older than me too, as I understand. You can speak as you like as well.”
I didn’t think much of it.
“All right, Ja-seong.”
The moment I dropped honorifics, he flinched slightly, then answered,
“Yes, Brother.”
“Good to meet you, Ja-seong. Let’s talk again soon.”
And that was sincere.
I’d just secured a future-famous master builder.
I figured I owed Uncle Geum a bowl of Chunyang’s soup, at least. And I was curious how he’d picked Ja-seong up in the first place. Of course, compared to a former inn boy or a brothel manager, Geum Cheol-yong had far more connections in that world, so a link-up made sense—but curiosity is curiosity.
“So, how was Ja-seong?”
“Straightforward, bold. I like him.”
“Thought you would. I figured you’d be pleased.”
Over bowls of soup with Uncle Geum, I asked,
“Where’d you dig up a talent like that?”
I really wanted to know.
In my past life, Geum Cheol-yong had spent his whole career making nothing but hilts shaped like dragon heads, so he’d never been that close to famous names. He ran the forge well enough, but Yeon Ja-seong swam in different waters.
Geum explained,
“Ja-seong’s the type who hustles day and night, looking for work. He came by Dragon-Head Forge once asking if we had any jobs. Pitched me on expanding the forge building itself a few times, too. I had no intention, and no real means, to do it.”
“By ‘no means’, you mean you didn’t want to stick your head up.”
“Well, that too. Anyway, I had no work for him at the time, but he kept stopping by to say hello. He’s born with a merchant’s instinct for survival. Of course, calling him a merchant is rude. He’s a craftsman. I felt a bit bad, and a bit curious, so I introduced him to a few jobs elsewhere. Now he calls me ‘Big Brother.’”
“I see. A guy wandering everywhere just to secure one contract…”
In the future, he’d be big enough that martial artists would come looking for him, but right now? He was still pounding the streets, and that just happened to lead him to Uncle Geum. Lucky for me.
“Any progress on Gwangin?”
Geum paused mid-sip, then smiled.
“Not exactly ‘progress.’ But once I started thinking about it, it became… fun. And frustrating. Every day used to be the same, but now the thought of Gwangin has lit a bit of a fire under us. The vice head, too. He’s agonizing over whether we can really make a weapon that won’t break. You could say the whole forge suddenly has a purpose.”
I nodded.
“That’s good.”
“Just wait and see. People think I’m only good for carving fancy hilts, but this time I’ll change that perception.”
Could he really pull it off? Even I couldn’t say.
But watching him move with a goal that wasn’t there in my past life… it didn’t feel bad.
Wiping down bowls as he listened, Jang Deok-su chimed in,
“Ilyang feels livelier somehow. I passed by the construction site earlier—Jahak Inn looks like it’s going to be huge.”
I looked between Uncle Geum and Deok-su. The man clearly had more to say.
He continued,
“Maybe we ought to hold some kind of celebration. For getting rid of those damned Jos.”
“A celebration?”
Deok-su dried his hands and turned to us.
“Jahak Inn, I mean. It’s being built with the Jos’ money anyway. And they made plenty of trouble in Ilyang. Why not gather the elders and throw a feast, mark a line under everything that’s happened and celebrate? If you’re up for it, I can talk to the other inn and tavern owners. We’d be the ones cooking, after all.”
Geum nodded.
“That’s not bad. Good excuse to see some faces. There used to be lots of gatherings like that. Things have gotten too cold lately.”
I tilted my head at Deok-su.
“That all you wanted to say?”
He hesitated a moment, then added,
“If there’s no one else suitable, I was thinking I could take the lead on a Shop Division. You know, for tavern boys, innkeepers, noodle shop owners—might as well have a branch for people in that line of work.”
Geum sputtered water all over him.
“Ah—sorry about that.”
Deok-su wiped his face.
“It’s fine.”
I said,
“Head of the Life Division, Cha Seong-tae. Head of the Iron Division, Geum Cheol-yong. Prospective head of the Construction Division, Yeon Ja-seong. And head of the Shop Division, Jang Deok-su.”
It wasn’t anything monumental, but for some reason, it made me want to laugh.
Deok-su caught my expression.
“What, am I funny to you?”
“No. I think you’ll do well. Let’s go with that.”
Once we add the Kill Division, our current Hao Sect—‘Ha-O’ as in ‘Filthy and Low’—would turn into Hao Sect as in ‘Five Lower Gates.’
I wanted this Hao Sect to last a long time.
And it was about time I found a head for the Kill Division.
As I chatted with Uncle Geum and Jang Deok-su, another part of my mind sifted through old memories, searching for the right man for that role.
I knew most of the strong ones from my active years, and I knew almost all the major incidents happening around now.
Plenty of candidates to consider.
After a while, Geum put his bowl down and said,
“All right, we’ve filled our bellies. Time to get back to work. Good meal.”
Jang Deok-su smiled.
“So, who’s paying?”
“Obviously the Sect Leader. I just introduced you to a fine man; I figure I’ve earned at least ten years of free meals.”
It was my turn to pay, but lately it felt like it was always my turn. Still, I fished some coins out of my pouch and put them on the counter.
“Thanks for the food, Deok-su.”
He scooped up the money.
“My pleasure. Come again.”
I stood and addressed them both.
“Well then, my distinguished Division Heads, see you next time.”
Uncle Geum puffed himself up.
“Just wait. I’ll bring you a weapon that embodies an unbreakable resolve…”
I nodded.
“I’ll look forward to it.”
Leaving Chunyang Diner, I headed back toward Maehwa House—only to find a group of men clearly waiting specifically for me, blocking my path.