“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shiiit!”

Neung-heo returned to his room and kept spitting out vulgar words.

“Take over the Black Heart Gang? My ass. Does he think the Black Heart Gang is some neighborhood inn?”

Be the head of the Black Heart Gang?

Does he think it’s as easy as it sounds? This guy, really.

“…It seems like it would be easy.”

After thinking for a moment, Neung-heo nodded his head.

Thinking of Cheon Mubaeck, that guy would be more than capable of crushing the Black Heart Gang by himself.

“No. That’s not it. Crushing it and taking it over are different.”

What Cheon Mubaeck had requested was a takeover.

It meant to completely absorb the power of the Black Heart Gang.

Well, even if he crushed the Black Heart Gang, new black-way would appear in its place. And if there was a great guy among them, he would gather power like the Black Heart Gang.

If he unified the black-way forces of Kaifeng?

Just like the current Black Heart Gang, it was bound to project its power to the outside.

Wonyang County, which was close to Kaifeng. And the Lotus Pavilion, which had the nickname of the best blue lantern house in Henan, was worth coveting.

So he was telling him to crush the Black Heart Gang and take it over completely.

Of course, taking over the entire Black Heart Gang was not as easy as it sounded.

“Split it into small pieces and form a coalition…”

The alternative he had proposed was to split the Black Heart Gang into small pieces and place people close to Neung-heo and Cheon Mubaeck at the head of each group.

Neung-heo would stand in the position of leading a kind of black-way alliance.

Of course, Cheon Mubaeck was behind him.

“Hmm.”

There were still many close younger brothers in the Black Heart Gang. Among them, there were also those he considered as friends.

“He said that the scariest thing about the black-way is when they all unite like brothers.”

What Cheon Mubaeck had said was right.

The black-way had not been able to build a large force in the martial world where the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic sects were constantly fighting.

But there were cases where the black-way had come to the fore in the martial world, and that was when those terrible tenacious bastards considered each other as brothers and united as one.

“If I place the guys I’m close to as the heads of each group. And if the heads at least think of each other as brothers, the alliance that will be created in place of the Black Heart Gang might become even stronger.”

Of course, it was all just theory.

First, he had to think about how to crush the Black Heart Gang.

Although Neung-heo was worried sick…

“Sigh. To think that he’s just telling me to bring an instrument and play it so peacefully.”

Seeing Cheon Mubaeck’s peaceful appearance, who was just going to play the daegeum and sleep, he was not angry but dumbfounded.

“Master.”

At that moment, Neung-heo was at a loss for words at the gisaeng who had entered the room.

It was Seol-yeong, who was the oldest among the gisaengs and was practically in the role of the vice-master.

She was a few years past the age of thirty.

Although she had retired as a gisaeng, perhaps because of her appearance that was once famous in Henan Province, her beauty had not lost its light, even if her wrinkles had increased.

No, in fact, Neung-heo was amazed.

‘How did she get prettier?’

That is, when he first came to the Lotus Pavilion, she was beautiful, but she was a withered flower.

Because she had retired from her position as a gisaeng and was only in the role of teaching the young gisaengs arts and music.

But…

“Come to think of it, they’ve all gotten prettier, hmph.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

At the words that had slipped out of his mouth, Neung-heo hastily waved his hands.

Seol-yeong stared at such a Neung-heo and smiled softly.

At that sight, Neung-heo felt a strange feeling in his heart for no reason.

‘Sigh, what a foolish old man.’

It wasn’t for nothing that there was a rumor that if you went to the Lotus Pavilion recently, there was the most beautiful woman in Henan in every room.

There was even a playboy who had asked if the cook was a retired gisaeng.

It was strange.

They were clearly girls with outstanding beauty even before, but recently, they were amazing in a different sense.

Their skin had brightened, and the blemishes on their faces had all disappeared. Was that all? They all had a new vitality and seemed to have become healthier.

Many men feel that a woman is pretty when she smiles. Since they were all smiling with vitality, how could they not be considered pretty?

Neung-heo, who had been thinking carefully, realized where the cause of this was.

‘It’s all been like this since that guy Cheon Mubaeck treated the kids, right?’

Since that day, the rumor of the Lotus Pavilion had been famous throughout Henan Province.

In fact, the gisaengs also looked at each other’s faces and made a fuss about why they had become so pretty.

“Since Young Master Cheon treated the kids that day, everyone’s face has brightened. I think it might be some kind of ingenious treatment. Everyone’s skin has also gotten much better.”

“Hmm. It seems that that guy didn’t just treat them.”

“Although his way of speaking is blunt, he’s a person with a deep sense of consideration.”

“Consideration, my ass… anyway, Seol-yeong. Let’s investigate a place called the Blood Ghost Valley.”

“The Blood Ghost Valley?”

“They’re clearly dangerous guys, so don’t try to dig too deep. What was it? There’s that official Jang, right? He said he had quite a bit of power in the capital before he retired, right?”

“Although he’s a fallen figure now, the connections he made while rolling around in the capital for over thirty years won’t just disappear.”

“Let’s secretly find out through that guy if there are any new emerging sects or new emerging cults on the martial world side.”

“Yes.”

“Of course, it’s a dangerous thing, so you don’t have to force yourself. Just naturally, huh? So that the kids aren’t in danger.”

“…Hoot.”

When Seol-yeong laughed, Neung-heo, who had been giving a long speech, had a blank face.

“Ah, I’m sorry. The Master has also changed a lot from when he was the general manager.”

“Changed? Me? This One-Eyed Snake, Neung-heo?”

“You weren’t worried about the kids’ safety.”

“Well, I’m the Master now.”

“That’s right. You’ve changed. Because you’ve developed a sense of responsibility for the kids.”

“…”

“I was also impressed. At that time… at the sight of you stepping forward, bleeding, to protect us from the ruffian who came from the Black Heart Gang.”

“Well… that’s. That’s.”

Neung-heo could not answer.

It was an uncharacteristic appearance for Neung-heo, who had shamelessly replied even in front of Cheon Mubaeck.

It couldn’t be helped.

He was confused by the strange emotion that was arising in one side of his heart.

It was a somewhat unfamiliar emotion to him, who had lived his whole life seeing blood while rolling around in the black-way.

Neung-heo tried to say it nonchalantly.

“It’s a natural thing. I’m the Master, and this is my Lotus Pavilion. Of course, that guy Young Master Cheon is the real owner, but, huh? I’m the head. I have to take responsibility for my kids.”

While saying so, Neung-heo felt as if he was about to realize something.

The action that Cheon Mubaeck was taking now.

He could sympathize a little with the reason why he was cleaning up the Black Heart Gang before he left.

‘It means that the mindset changes.’

The Cheon Mubaeck that Neung-heo had seen seemed to have a clear goal.

Although he didn’t know what that goal was, he was trying to get rid of everything that got in his way to reach it. The Blood Demon Sect was one of them.

He was also trying to lay a solid foundation. The Lotus Pavilion and the Azure Star Escort Agency were Cheon Mubaeck’s current foundation.

‘That guy, he’s young, but his actions make him seem much more cunning. But he’s trying to run at full speed towards some goal.’

To be honest, what did the Blood Demon Sect matter?

Heo Seong thought that Cheon Mubaeck was acting as a hero, following the will of his unknown master, burning with a sense of justice. Neung-heo was not. The quick-witted Neung-heo knew that Cheon Mubaeck was not a gentleman who talked about justice like the old-fashioned orthodox sect guys.

The Blood Demon Sect was just one of the things that got in Cheon Mubaeck’s way.

It was just an annoying existence that threatened the foundation he was trying to build for his own goal.

‘In order to move forward, you need a stable foundation so that you don’t have to look back.’

That’s right.

‘If you have something to protect, your mindset changes. You end up running at full speed towards your goal. Whether it’s a sense of responsibility or whatever. So is that why Young Master Cheon is trying to deal with the Black Heart Gang?’

The Blood Demon Sect, and then the Black Heart Gang. And the group called the Blood Ghost Valley behind the Blood Demon Sect.

Neung-heo was purely impressed.

Others would be reluctant to get involved in the affairs of the martial world.

But even so, Cheon Mubaeck threw himself into it without hesitation. The fact that he had that much skill was another matter. Neung-heo was honestly envious of his great courage and magnanimity. And he looked a little cool. He suddenly had the thought that he wanted to be like the much younger Cheon Mubaeck.

‘I don’t know what his goal is…’

Neung-heo’s expression hardened.

Well, it doesn’t matter what that guy’s goal is, right?

In any case, he was on the same boat as Cheon Mubaeck. And the owner who managed the Lotus Pavilion was himself, Neung-heo. Neung-heo was the same as Cheon Mubaeck.

‘Just as that guy is running around to protect his foundation, I have to do the same to protect my kids.’

He looked at the Seol-yeong in front of him.

If he left the Black Heart Gang as it was, it was obvious that they would aim for the Lotus Pavilion again.

If Cheon Mubaeck was not there at that time, could he stop them by himself?

Could he even protect the kids?

“Damn it, shit. Right, they’re my kids. If I want to protect my kids, I have to fight with my own hands. Yes, I have to rush in with all my might, just as that guy Young Master Cheon said.”

Neung-heo’s eyes burned.

* * *

Cheon Mubaeck looked at Neung-heo with a sullen expression.

“Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?”

“You’re not Neung-heo. You bastard. Take off your human skin mask.”

“Right, I’m not. You son of a bitch.”

“So you are Neung-heo.”

“Yes.”

“…”

Heo Seong sighed inwardly as he watched the strange combination of these two.

Cheon Mubaeck had revealed his intention to go to Kaifeng and clean up the Black Heart Gang to Heo Seong as well.

Unlike Neung-heo, Heo Seong was flustered inwardly, but he bowed his head and followed without a word.

Cheon Mubaeck smirked as he saw the difference between Neung-heo and Heo Seong.

Although Heo Seong was sly, he was an old-fashioned martial artist of the orthodox sects.

Although he had a frustrating side because he couldn’t work with a certain degree of flexibility, he was a typical martial artist who thought of loyalty first rather than his own thoughts.

On the other hand, Neung-heo was a typical black-way.

He considered profit rather than the emotion of loyalty.

So Cheon Mubaeck was worried whether Neung-heo would be active in this matter.

Taking over the Black Heart Gang was a beneficial thing. But for Neung-heo?

Honestly, would it be possible to manage the Black Heart Gang with just his ability?

He would know that well himself. The fact that it was difficult.

Then Neung-heo had no need to start trouble. Even at the risk.

But a completely unexpected situation had occurred.

“So, since all the Black Heart Gang executives are gathered in Kaifeng at this time, let’s lure them one by one and deal with them?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

Cheon Mubaeck crossed his arms.

He looked at Neung-heo with a look that said ‘not bad’.

This guy, not bad?

If a guy like Neung-heo made up his mind and rushed in actively, things would become easier.

Because he would find the best way for his own benefit.

There were still many people connected to Neung-heo in the Black Heart Gang.

Recently, the Black Heart Gang had gained new interests due to business expansion, and they were said to be recruiting a new executive to manage those interests.

Although the power of the Black Heart Gang Master was great, he could not ignore each executive. If they felt even a little ignored and discriminated against, the black-way would rush in like tenacious bastards if they got the chance.

So all the executives were said to be gathering in Kaifeng.

Before that, the opinion was to stand on the road and deal with them one by one, or to lure them one by one and deal with them.

“Kuh! No matter how I think about it, isn’t it a brilliant plan?”

“Well, well.”

“Let’s call them out one by one and intimidate them. To stand on this side. Huh? Isn’t that my specialty?”

“What if they don’t come over to this side?”

“Then we can just deal with them.”

“Hmm, what do you think? Escort Warrior Heo.”

“A sword is used as its master wields it.”

“You’re so rigid.”

“Kuh. A rigid guy like that is better. Than a superior who causes trouble and goes on and on.”

Paak!

“Ugh!”

Neung-heo writhed, rubbing his bright red forehead.

Cheon Mubaeck’s flick had exploded.

“Why, why did you hit me?”

“Because there are guys who only come to their senses when you hit them sometimes.”

“Ha!”

“Anyway, it’s not a bad idea…”

Cheon Mubaeck trailed off.

At that sight, Heo Seong also tilted his head slightly.

Although he hadn’t given any opinion, he also thought that Neung-heo’s plan was quite good.

In any case, wasn’t the goal not to crush and destroy the Black Heart Gang?

In the end, in order to take it over, he had to lead the existing people as well.

So isn’t it better to convert them to this side rather than to deal with them one by one with difficulty?

“Isn’t it annoying?”

“Pardon?”

“When are you going to call them one by one and do that crap? Moreover, even if you persuade them to this side, Neung-heo. Do you think those guys will follow your words to the letter?”

“That’s…”

“At least you have to hand over the top position to the second-in-command or the kids below.”

“Then all…?”

“Right. There’s no need to deal with them one by one separately. When is the executive meeting?”

“It’s in three days.”

Cheon Mubaeck grinned.

“Let’s change the water all at once there. Even the Black Heart Gang Master. How convenient is that?”

In an instant, a terrible silence descended in the room.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep