Episode 93. My Mood Swings.
So Gun-pyeong stared at the Paegeomhoe messenger and asked carefully, “Master?”
“What is it?”
“He’s not worth my time.”
“Too weak?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Step back.”
I swept my gaze over the subordinates of both Nammyunghoe and Black Cat Hall, then locked eyes with Cha Seong-tae.
“Cha Seong-tae, you’ll fight. Your opponent is that useless Paegeomhoe messenger.”
“Understood.”
Cracking his neck, Cha Seong-tae stepped into the center. The messenger glared at me. “Is this how you treat an envoy?”
“Did I offend you?”
“I came only to deliver a message. Show some understanding.”
I stared at him blankly and said, “Then I’ll show Paegeomhoe proper courtesy by fighting you myself.”
The messenger turned and drew his sword toward Cha Seong-tae. “Let’s begin.”
Cha Seong-tae unsheathed his blade. The messenger added, “Let’s not hurt each other.”
“Shut up, you idiot. This is a fight.”
“Well said,” I nodded.
Despite his bold words, Cha Seong-tae was tense — his first duel against a fighter from another faction, with everyone watching. Nam Garak asked, “Where does that subordinate rank among yours?”
“Bottom.”
“Ah, really?”
Hearing that, veins bulged on Cha Seong-tae’s forehead as the two clashed.
Nam Garak tilted his head while watching. “He’s good.”
I had to admit — he’d improved. Back in Ilyang County, he was among the toughest fighters, just below the Jo brothers. Now, his practical experience had blended with stable white-path swordsmanship. He’d been steadily building his inner energy too. And Ho Yeon-cheong had trained him well.
After twenty fierce exchanges, both struck at each other’s openings simultaneously — fists crashing, inner energy flaring. Cha Seong-tae staggered back, while the messenger stumbled and fell on his backside.
Seizing the moment, Cha Seong-tae stepped forward and pressed his sword to the man’s neck.
The messenger’s eyes trembled as he looked at the blade’s tip. Cha Seong-tae asked, “Shall I kill him?”
“No need.”
Grinning triumphantly, Cha Seong-tae sheathed his sword. “Paegeomhoe isn’t much, huh.”
I corrected him. “No, he’s not much. Don’t get the wrong idea — this duel wasn’t to make you arrogant. Everyone saw it, right? This is the level of a Paegeomhoe envoy. They treat us like stray rogues, but we refused their offer. Envoy, get lost. Next time you show up this arrogant, it won’t end with just two slaps.”
The messenger bowed stiffly. “Thank you for sparing me. Until next time.”
He touched his ear — blood streamed from it. Deaf on one side, he slapped it a few times and hurried out.
Cha Seong-tae tilted his head. “Bleeding from the ear… was my energy that strong?”
I ignored him. “Leaders, stay behind. We need to talk.”
The leaders of Nammyunghoe and Black Cat Hall gathered. Cha Seong-tae, seated at the end as chief officer, repeated, “But really — his ear bled. Was it my energy?”
Unable to stand it, Nam Garak explained, “The Master slapped him earlier. Probably burst his eardrum.”
Cha Seong-tae muttered, disappointed, “Ah, I see.”
The air grew still. I summarized for everyone, “Paegeomhoe offered to pay three silver coins per head per day if we fight for them against Namcheon-ryeon. That’s the price they set on your lives.”
Faces hardened immediately. “Those bastards…” So Gun-pyeong, usually composed, spat, “Extorted merchants for money, and this is their idea of recruitment? Filthy pigs.”
I corrected him. “We’re filthy too. Take back the last part.”
“Yes, sir.”
I continued, “Still, we’re not the same kind of filth. We’re like fallen petals from a plum tree — they’re the stench of diarrhea after bad medicine.”
“…”
My absurd metaphor killed the mood.
Cha Seong-tae quickly flattered, “A perfect metaphor, sir.”
“Shut up. It was excessive.”
“Yes.”
I introduced Nam Garak properly. “This is Nam Garak, Leader of Nammyunghoe. He refused both Paegeomhoe and Namcheon-ryeon. Regardless of strength, I respect men who act like men. From now on, Nammyunghoe and Black Cat Hall will cooperate — no exceptions.”
“Understood,” my men replied in unison.
Nam Garak added, “I once lost to the Master here. If he had humiliated me afterward, I wouldn’t have come today. We’re not as large as those two factions, but Nammyunghoe won’t fight shamefully.”
My men nodded respectfully. “We look forward to working together.”
I corrected him as well. “I’ve got more people than you. If we unite and I lead the charge, we could wipe out either side in a single strike. But mindless war would cost too many lives. Let’s plan carefully — minimum loss, maximum gain.”
Ho Yeon-cheong spoke up. “Master, I can mobilize some troops as well.”
I met his gaze — first time in a while — and gave him a new title. “Master Ho, you’ve trained Chief Cha well.”
His eyes widened slightly. “Thank you.”
“Thanks to you, I wasn’t embarrassed today. But there’s no need to mobilize your men. You’re a gifted teacher — keep visiting and train my subordinates freely.”
It was permission — and a reward. Ho Yeon-cheong bowed. “Thank you, Master.”
I looked around. “Let’s hear some ideas. Commander Byeok, strategist So, speak first.”
Byeok spoke. “Both sides are still gathering troops. They probably don’t know our true numbers. If we side with one, victory would be certain.”
“Agreed.”
“Then we should make that known. Let both sides understand the weight of our involvement.”
“Be specific.”
“Under the Hao Sect name — include Black Cat Hall, Black Line Fort, the Twelve Generals, the Golden Sea Guild, even Nammyunghoe if Leader Nam agrees. Once they realize this alliance, none will dare act arrogantly again.”
So Gun-pyeong countered, “That makes sense, but what if we stay hidden — wait until both sides exhaust themselves, then strike and finish them off? They provoked us first, after all.”
His plan was colder, more practical — the plan of a man used to blood, not words.
I turned to Nam Garak. “And you?”
“I prefer So’s approach,” he said. “But I’ll defer to your decision.”
I nodded. “Our main enemy is Paegeomhoe. Ignore Namcheon-ryeon for now.”
So Gun-pyeong asked, “Why?”
“Namcheon-ryeon’s leader rose by his sword — he might accept a fair duel. Paegeomhoe, on the other hand, hires assassins. A coward’s path.”
I glanced at Nam Garak, who nodded in agreement. (You’re the one who hired assassins last time, bastard.) I thought to myself.
“Anyway,” I said aloud, “send them a letter.”
Byeok nodded. “What should it say?”
“That the Hao Sect includes Black Cat Hall, the Twelve Generals, Golden Mountain Guild, Ilyang County, Black Line Fort, and all honest workers — merchants, farmers, cooks, laborers. If Paegeomhoe extorts, kidnaps, or kills any of them, it means war with us.”
Nam Garak raised an eyebrow. “You forgot Nammyunghoe.”
“Add Nammyunghoe,” I said.
“Understood.”
“And don’t just send it to them. Send copies to every black, white, and neutral group — martial clans, bandit dens, brothels, taverns, market stalls, even temples. Post it everywhere — walls, alleys, bridges. Spread it wide. If anyone harms working people, I’ll personally slap, kick, or kill them. Understood?”
“Yes, Master!” everyone roared.
I’d been in a foul mood lately — so I declared war in the name of the Hao Sect.
“Anyone with complaints, anyone who thinks I’m a joke — tell them to find I Ja-ha of the Hao Sect.”
Byeok chuckled nervously. “Wouldn’t that make you too busy, Master? Let me screen them first.”
“Fine,” I said. “And since no one knows yet — add that I killed the Great Na-Chal.”
“Should we really include that?”
“Of course. I killed Teacher Su, the Two-Dragon Elder, the Black Line Lord, and that gambling cheat Dong Bang-yeon — burned him alive, in fact. Write that too.”
Byeok fell silent as the list grew. “Write it all, Byeok.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Seong-tae.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Go to Ilyang County and bring Brother Deuk-su here by carriage. On the way, buy ingredients — pork bones, meats, vegetables, and good liquor. Pay full price. Bring ten brothers with you. I’ll have our cook prepare a proper feast for Nammyunghoe. Byeok, give Seong-tae enough money.”
“Understood.”
I looked at Nam Garak. “You came all this way. At least stay for dinner.”
He grinned. “Gladly.”
Just the thought of treating Nammyunghoe to a hearty meal eased my anger a bit.
“Now, anything I missed? Any names I forgot to include? No?”
Just then, a commotion erupted outside. The doors burst open, and three unfamiliar men pushed past my guards. “We are from Namcheon-ryeon! Which one of you is the Black Cat Hall Master?”
Every head in the hall turned toward me, faces tense. I stared at them, dumbfounded. An icy silence fell.
Realizing something was wrong, the envoys shifted uneasily, eyes darting. Then So Gun-pyeong suddenly leapt up, cursing. “Kneel, you bastards! You dare act arrogant here?”
My officers followed suit — grabbing, kicking, and punching the envoys without hesitation.
I didn’t even have time to intervene.
“Hmm.”
In an instant, the three envoys were on the floor, stomped and beaten. Even old Commander Byeok rose and, despite his bad knee, joined in — shouting with each stomp, “Such insolence! Such rudeness! Such… such…!”
The envoys, bloodied and trembling, finally knelt.
Byeok looked up at me. “Master, as you said — spreading our declaration far and wide will ensure proper respect next time.”
I nodded. “Good. Let’s do that.”
I’d almost stormed off to wage war without dinner, but my men’s quick response calmed me down. Seeing the envoys’ pitiful faces, I gave one last order.
“Keep stomping.”
“Yes, Master!”
The hall echoed with their unified shout.