CLS-Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“Where on earth did you go last night!”

Wei Yan-ho let out a low sigh as he looked at Jin So-ah, who had burst through the door first thing in the morning.

“…I’ve never been married, yet it feels like I’ve gained a wife.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Wei Yan-ho didn’t answer and simply stared at Jin So-ah.

“Ahem.”

Jin So-ah deflected Wei Yan-ho’s gaze with an awkward smile.

“So, what are you whining about this time?”

“Whining? I simply wanted to discuss countermeasures.”

“Countermeasures?”

Jin So-ah nodded vigorously.

“Didn’t you say you’d repay the debt within a fortnight?”

“Did I?”

When Wei Yan-ho tilted his head in confusion, Jin So-ah grabbed his clothes tightly.

It had happened just yesterday, yet what on earth was in this man’s head? Did he delete his memories while sleeping?

“You said it yesterday! Yesterday!”

“I did?”

“You told that Joageol man that you’d repay the debt of this place within a fortnight!”

“Ah, right.”

Wei Yan-ho nodded as if he finally remembered.

“Yes, I think I said something like that. But why?”

“Why? You must have had a way to raise the money, right?”

Wei Yan-ho answered matter-of-factly.

“Not really?”

“…What?”

“I just said that because it was noisy, thinking it would quiet down once I sent him away. At least I bought us two weeks, didn’t I?”

“…Young Master?”

Wei Yan-ho was shameless.

“Anyway, I pushed back an immediate crisis by two weeks, so shouldn’t you be grateful?”

Jin So-ah’s face turned red.

‘This… the words seem right, but…’

If it hadn’t been for Wei Yan-ho, Jin Ye-ran would have been dragged off to a brothel yesterday without fail. Just preventing that should have been cause for gratitude.

That was certainly true.

‘But why does this make me so angry!’

Jin So-ah wondered if he was perhaps an ungrateful wretch who knew nothing of courtesy and propriety.

But no matter how he thought about it, Jin So-ah wasn’t someone who lacked such manners.

“Then why am I so irritated?”

“Huh?”

When Wei Yan-ho looked puzzled, Jin So-ah finally exploded.

“So you made that promise without any plan whatsoever!”

“Yeah.”

“Then there’ll really be trouble in two weeks! There might have been some way to resolve it, but now we’re completely trapped!”

“I wouldn’t know about that.”

“Grrrr.”

Jin So-ah made a groaning sound and shot to his feet.

“What kind of person has no plan…”

Suddenly, Wei Yan-ho gestured for Jin So-ah to come closer.

At that gesture beckoning him near, Jin So-ah stopped speaking and quietly moved closer to Wei Yan-ho.

“Listen carefully.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ve been thinking, and there’s not exactly no way out.”

“There’s a method?”

“It’s the best method handed down from ancient times. When being harassed by creditors, there’s no better way than this!”

“Wh-what is it?”

“I wonder if you’ve heard of it. It’s called Night Flight.”

“…”

“Even in military strategy, they say among the Thirty-Six Stratagems, ‘fleeing is the best strategy.’ If you can’t face the enemy, running away without looking back is also one method!”

Jin So-ah’s head drooped down endlessly like ripened rice.

‘I trusted this kind of person…’

He felt almost betrayed.

“You call that advice!”

Just as Jin So-ah was about to lose his temper, a clear voice came from outside the door.

“What are you doing?”

Jin So-ah clamped his mouth shut like a clam.

When he quietly turned his head, he saw Jin Ye-ran standing outside the open door, looking at Jin So-ah with a stern expression.

“Sister.”

“What are you doing to our guest and benefactor? Haven’t I repeatedly emphasized that you must never lose your manners, no matter what happens?”

“I apologize.”

“Come out.”

“…Yes.”

As Jin So-ah went outside with his head hung low, Wei Yan-ho had to feel somewhat conflicted.

Seeing him get thoroughly scolded after acting up was satisfying, but watching him get dragged away so dejected after just one word was also a bit pitiful.

“Though we received much help from our benefactor, I apologize for not properly greeting you yesterday. Though we committed discourtesy, I hope you’ll understand with a generous heart.”

“Pardon?”

Wei Yan-ho couldn’t understand what discourtesy she was referring to.

“If not for you, I would have suffered a terrible fate yesterday. How can I ever repay this kindness?”

“…Oh, no.”

Wei Yan-ho began to feel uncomfortable.

‘Moon Eun-ji was better.’

That girl, despite growing up in a scholarly family, was like a mudskipper who had eaten courtesy and formality for breakfast, but that actually made her easier to deal with.

People who maintained such rigid formality naturally didn’t suit Wei Yan-ho.

Moreover, if her face were just moderately pretty, the burden would be less, but the way she modestly bowed her head made her look like a fairy descended from heaven, making it even more burdensome.

“Please don’t worry about it.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hands dismissively.

‘Did the daughter get switched?’

If Jin Ye-ran were Moon Yu-hwan’s daughter, that would make sense. From what Jin So-ah said, Jin Ye-ran’s father didn’t seem to be much of a proper person either, so how did such a daughter come from there?

Their family circumstances were so shabby, but she was perfectly suited to be a young lady from a good family.

“I’m just grateful for what you’ve done. We’ll handle what comes next, so please withdraw from this matter.”

“Uh…”

“The man I saw yesterday isn’t particularly frightening. But the background behind him consists of cruel and ruthless criminals, so I fear that getting involved might endanger you.”

“I’m fine though…”

Jin Ye-ran smiled gently.

That smile was so radiant that even Wei Yan-ho’s heart momentarily fluttered.

“You have a tender heart, benefactor.”

Wei Yan-ho couldn’t find words to reply.

He’d heard of having a lazy heart, but having a tender heart was something he’d never heard in his life. Everyone who knew him was busy criticizing him for being ruthless; no one had ever praised him this way.

“But this is our matter. If you were to suffer harm because of our affairs, we wouldn’t have the face to meet our deceased father even in death. Please remember my words.”

“Ah, yes…”

When Wei Yan-ho nodded in bewilderment, Jin Ye-ran bowed once more and went outside.

Click.

As the door closed, Wei Yan-ho flopped backward.

‘This feels strange somehow…’

He kept feeling ticklish inside.

***

“Tell me once more.”

Guo Dao-san, the leader of the Black Spider House, a criminal organization that controlled Hubei, frowned as he looked down at Joageol, who stood before him.

Joageol hesitated, unable to answer.

“I told you to speak.”

“Well, that is…”

Joageol opened his mouth in a voice barely above a whisper.

“There was a master at the Sacred Hand Hall.”

“A master?”

“Yes. He was a master.”

Guo Dao-san erupted in fury.

“What kind of nonsense is this! Why would there be a master in that ruined clinic!”

“I don’t really know either…”

“Did some master just happen to fall over while passing by! What would he be doing sitting in a clinic with just those young brats!”

“According to him, he was there as a guest.”

“A guest?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Guo Dao-san rubbed his face roughly.

“A guest, a guest… Is he an acquaintance of the former Sacred Hand Hall master? If so, this gets complicated…”

Seeing Guo Dao-san’s displeasure, Joageol held his breath, not daring to speak.

Anyone involved with the Black Spider House knew how violent Guo Dao-san was. But his personal martial prowess was so outstanding that no one dared express dissatisfaction.

“So? Are you saying you ran away with your tail between your legs the moment you saw the master? To save your own skin?”

“How could that be, House Leader! You know well that I, Joageol, am no coward.”

“Know what?”

As Guo Dao-san’s face contorted, Joageol immediately explained the situation.

“That master said he’d repay the money within a fortnight. So I withdrew to observe the situation first.”

“Repay the money within a fortnight?”

“Yes. If what he said comes true…”

At that moment, Guo Dao-san grabbed a vase from the table and hurled it at Joageol’s head.

Crash!

Joageol blinked, having been suddenly struck by the vase.

“You stupid fool! Who told you to collect money! Didn’t I tell you to either use the money as an excuse to take down the Sacred Hand Hall’s sign, or completely destroy them so they could never recover! But what? He’ll prepare the money within a fortnight? And you just withdrew after hearing that?”

Joageol pressed his head to the floor again.

“I thought it was right to first identify that man’s true nature.”

“Your tongue must be greased with oil. If this matter goes wrong, I’ll cut off that oily tongue first!”

“That will never happen.”

“Damn it.”

Guo Dao-san’s mind began racing.

“If I don’t handle this matter properly, those people will be enraged. Then our Black Spider House will be reduced to a handful of ash, foundation stones and all!”

Fear settled on Guo Dao-san’s face as he spoke.

Joageol trembled seeing that sight.

To think there were beings that could make Guo Dao-san, called a legend of Hubei’s underworld, tremble with such fear.

Who exactly was manipulating this affair?

“Joageol.”

“Yes, House Leader.”

“I’ll assign some men to you. Do you know what you need to do?”

“…Kill him?”

“Ugh!”

When Guo Dao-san grimaced, Joageol grumbled internally.

‘If I could understand just from words, would I be rolling around in this business?’

“We don’t even know what level of ability that so-called master has, so what are you going to do? If you carelessly provoke him and he turns out to be a hornet’s nest, will you be able to handle it?”

“No, sir.”

“How many times have I told you that to survive in the underworld, you must tap on stone bridges a hundred, a thousand times before crossing! And you said that master was young?”

“Yes.”

“In the martial world, the things you must be most careful of are young men, old people, and women who look weak. If that young man stepped forward himself to interfere with our business, he must have something to rely on.”

“…Those are wise words.”

“So we’re postponing striking at him. What you need to do is use any means necessary to prevent the Sacred Hand Hall people from paying the money. Understand?”

“Yes!”

After receiving several more instructions, Joageol left the leader’s room.

“Easier said than done.”

Joageol sighed.

He’d joined believing in the Black Spider House leader Guo Dao-san’s reputation, but this job also felt like a hellish workplace.

“I should do this half-heartedly and find another job.”

Thinking of his rabbit-like child and bear-like wife at home, he couldn’t just quit in disgust.

“Why did I ever get married…”

Tears formed in Joageol’s eyes.