I planned to torment them with alcohol.

"By the way, do you two have enough time to drink today? There’s a lot we need to discuss, and you’ll need to speak well on my behalf to the Black Cat Gang."

Han Go-uk smirked.

"So, you’re not as stubborn as I thought. We have plenty of time. We usually get entertained at Ihwaru, but this place isn’t bad either."

I cut in.

"You can enjoy the flowers after you've had some drinks."

"Fair enough."

By flowers, he meant courtesans, but I had no intention of letting them enjoy anything. My goal was simple—to make them drink.

And not just a little.

I intended to make them drink until they were on the verge of death.

I was an undying drinker.

Even without using my inner energy to dispel intoxication, I had always been the best drinker in the world.

***

As it turned out, Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk were heavy drinkers as well.

However, after downing liquor continuously for half an hour alongside dull conversation, they were beginning to struggle. The fact that I had been serving them Third Grade Du Kang liquor instead of First Grade only made it worse. On top of that, I kept the atmosphere heavy, making it difficult for them to digest the food they had eaten.

Jeon Pung shook his head and muttered.

"This Du Kang liquor is unusually strong today."

Of course, it was.

It was cheap and poorly refined.

I grinned at Jeon Pung.

"Stop complaining."

Han Go-uk, his face flushed red, chuckled.

"I'm not complaining. Just bring the girls in already. I heard that Chae-hyang and So-ok from here are stunning, with beautiful singing and dancing. Bring them in."

I waved my hand dismissively.

"Don't ruin the taste of the liquor. Here, drink up."

I poured more Du Kang liquor into their cups.

At that, their expressions soured. They were already heavily intoxicated and were starting to come up with excuses to avoid drinking more.

"I think I’ve had too much already."

"I should take a short break before drinking again."

I let out a loud laugh and said.

"Drink, or die. Choose. There’s no other option."

Jeon Pung glared at me with bloodshot eyes.

"You bastard, you’re drunk. Zaha, stop drinking. You’ve had too much. You may have a bright future ahead, but your drinking habits are terrible."

Han Go-uk slammed his hand against the table.

"He's right. It’s your attitude that's the problem. If you speak like that when you meet the higher-ups of the Black Cat Gang, you’ll get stabbed to death during a drinking party. Keep that in mind."

I picked up a piece of food and chewed as I responded.

"Is the Black Cat Gang’s leader really that great?"

"What?!"

"You’re crossing the line."

I met their angry stares with a calm expression.

"You two—are you drunk?"

"……."

"As you can see, I’m perfectly fine. If the leader of the Black Cat Gang is truly such a great man, then I suppose he could save you two right here and now. Let me make this clear—I’ve never lived my life worrying about consequences. So, are you going to die here at my hands, or are you going to drink? Pick one. Lady Son!"

I raised my voice at the end, calling for Lady Son. The door swung open, and she looked at me, awaiting my command.

I gave my order.

"Bring me my sword."

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Without a word, Lady Son nodded and disappeared.

Before the two men could say anything, I pointed my finger at them.

"I’ll give you until she returns with my sword. If you don’t drink by then, I’ll take it as an agreement to a life-or-death duel, right here, right now. I do expect you two to be stronger than the Jo Brothers, at least. You are high-ranking members of the Black Cat Gang, after all. Surely you must be stronger than them."

As I spoke, their faces turned pale.

Even if they weren’t drunk, they knew they wouldn’t be able to defeat me. But now, in their current intoxicated state, they were even more defenseless.

I stared at them with steady eyes.

"Hurry up and decide. I can hear footsteps approaching. Thump, thump, thump. She must be here."

Lady Son’s footsteps echoed in the hallway. As soon as the door slid open with a creak, the two men hastily grabbed their cups and downed the Du Kang liquor.

"Urgh…"

"Ugh…"

Their faces contorted in agony. After all, they had just gulped down Third Grade Du Kang liquor nonstop.

I placed the sword Lady Son handed me onto the table and poured them another round.

"Good. Lady Son."

Lady Son stood politely, hands clasped before her, waiting for my instructions.

I pointed at Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk with my finger.

"Our esteemed guests seem to be looking down on me. I suppose being a former beggar means I’ll always be treated with contempt, no matter where I go. Isn’t that right, Lady Son?"

Lady Son nodded.

"Is it because they’re relying on the Black Cat Gang’s backing? But if I had been afraid of the Black Cat Gang in the first place, I wouldn’t have killed the Jo Brothers, would I? Am I wrong?"

Lady Son nodded vigorously.

'You’re absolutely right.'

I gestured toward their cups.

"Come on, drink up. Lady Son, go tell Cha Seong-tae to gather all the martial artists hanging around the three brothels and have them wait downstairs. If these two try to run, kill them on the spot—or bring them back to me. I’ll give them a punishment drink."

Lady Son nodded in understanding and left.

Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk were now so intoxicated they could barely sit upright.

And yet, even in their drunken state, they knew one thing for certain—if they tried to attack me now, they would die immediately.

Jeon Pung muttered.

"I need to step out for a moment."

I stared at his face and asked.

"To throw up?"

"For a piss."

"You still have the will to relieve yourselves, so you’re not drunk enough. Not nearly enough. You two have no sense of proper drinking etiquette. Lady Son, order more liquor first, then pass on the message."

Lady Son, who had been walking down the hallway, returned and nodded silently before shutting the door.

Perhaps because they were already drunk, Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk suddenly found Lady Son intimidating. Maybe they truly believed I would rip her mouth open if she spoke carelessly.

The two of them were completely out of it.

A short while later, Lady Son reappeared with more Third Grade Du Kang liquor. After setting it down, she furrowed her brows and gestured toward them.

[Do not throw up here.]

As she left again, I poured more liquor and spoke.

"Drink up."

At my words, the two men clamped their mouths shut. They were barely hanging on to consciousness.

I drank the same amount of liquor as they did.

Since they were incapable of pouring for themselves, I poured for all of us and said,

"Brother Jeon, Brother Han, please speak well of me to the Black Cat Gang."

It was unclear what exactly I wanted them to say, but the two of them nodded frantically.

"I will definitely put in a good word."

"There won’t be any trouble."

"It doesn’t really matter if you badmouth me either. The Black Cat Gang leader is probably important enough to ignore me. But if things take a strange turn and we end up fighting, I’ll make you a promise. If I catch either of you again, I won’t beat you, I won’t send assassins after you, nor will I try any underhanded tricks. No, I’ll simply make you drink—more than today—until you die. Keep that in mind. I might need to be cautious about the Black Cat Gang leader, but you two? You’re irrelevant. Let’s make sure we understand that distinction before we part ways."

Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk nodded vigorously.

I smirked and pointed at them, jabbing my finger in their direction.

"Now you two finally look like you understand. So… a final drink?"

"Agh, no thanks."

Han Go-uk practically pleaded.

"I think we’ve had more than enough. We’ve drunk plenty. So, what should we call you from now on? Ah, rest assured, we’ll only speak positively of you to our superiors. But, Lord Rooju, shouldn’t you stop drinking now as well…? Please."

I liked their change in tone and demeanor.

"Good. I’ll build a proper martial sect in Ilyang County. I’ve already picked a name, and I’m even constructing a decent building for it."

Of course, I was talking about the Zaha Guesthouse.

"Until then, I’d prefer it if the Black Cat Gang didn’t expect tributes from us."

"That won’t happen anytime soon, will it?"

I nodded.

"The sect doesn’t even have a proper gate yet, and you’re talking about tributes? What kind of nonsense is that? Let’s just leave things be for now. I’m sure I’ll visit the Black Cat Gang at some point to discuss matters myself. It’s always best to take things easy. How about one more drink?"

"No, no. You’re absolutely right. It’s best to handle things the way you suggest. It wouldn’t be proper for us to demand tributes from a sect that doesn’t even have a gate yet. That’s against the principles of Jianghu."

Satisfied, I nodded.

"Well said. Let’s all live by the principles of Jianghu. A person must uphold those principles. As for the Jo Brothers, pass along this message."

"Go ahead."

"Tell them that Yi Zaha of Ilyang County killed the three Lords because they failed to uphold the principles of Jianghu."

"I will make sure to deliver that exact message."

As the two men struggled to stay conscious, I took another drink. Every ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) time I lifted my cup, they winced. It seemed the pounding headache was hitting them hard.

I muttered like a drunkard.

"And so, my path as a wandering knight begins again. I think I’m getting drunk now, so you should head back. I, however, need one last drink to cleanse my palate."

"Ah, thank you."

"This has been… quite an enjoyable drinking session."

"I agree."

As they supported each other and slowly stood up, I called out toward the door.

"The guests are leaving."

At that moment, Lady Son appeared and looked at me. She made a sharp gesture across her throat.

'Shall I kill them?'

I shook my head.

"Why would we kill them? They’re esteemed guests. Don’t even charge them for the drinks. Escort them politely to the entrance."

Lady Son nodded and extended her hand, signaling the two men to follow her.

For a moment, I wondered if Lady Son was in her right mind.

Or perhaps, those two had tormented the women of the brothel far too often. But I had no reason to ask her.

***

Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk barely made it to the entrance of Maehwaru, their steps staggering.

As they carefully descended the stairs, they suddenly stopped.

A large group of young men from Ilyang County had gathered below, dressed in various outfits and armed with different weapons.

Some were squatting, while others laughed and joked among themselves. But as soon as Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk appeared, all of them fell silent, their gazes turning sharp with killing intent.

From within that crowd, Cha Seong-tae stepped forward, gripping his blade, and asked toward the entrance of Maehwaru,

"Should we kill them?"

Jeon Pung and Han Go-uk, unsure who he was talking to, turned around.

Behind them, Lady Son had followed silently down the stairs, standing eerily still, like a ghostly spinster who had forgotten how to speak.