I catch the rod but not the fish.
I sotis wonder why n throw their fishing rods into the water when they fail to catch a fish.
They probably hate the process, like .
I even lose my appetite. I don’t like catfish.
In any case, I watch the seemingly endless lake as I throw the fishing rod into it. I am interested in the man called Kang Tae-gong because of his words.
What is done cannot be undone.
These words an that spilled water cannot be put back in the bowl.
When did he say these words?
He said these words after his family left him when he beca poor and returned when he beca a wealthy prince.
I reflect deeper on his thinking.
I think that Kang Tae-gong is a man that is like . There is no ntion of that man learning martial arts, but I am sure he has mastered so.
He is a descendant of the Shen Nong family.
The Fla Emperor.
It doesn’t an he’s a real emperor, but the people of Kangho called him that. This fact is powerful for as soone who also learns about fire qi.
Kang Tae-gong is renowned for defeating many enemies using a small number of troops during the battles of the War of Night. My personal conclusion is that he won because he is strong.
Or maybe not.
As I look at the calm lake, I calm my mind using these thoughts. I then cleanse myself from my anger and wait for the news to arrive.
On my third day of fishing, Woo Cheol-jin delivers the news that the troops of the South Horizon Sect are on standby at Bokyang.
Bokyang is a transportation hub about half an hour away from the lake. It is a place I can reach quickly with a little bit of footwork.
As I hear the report’s details, I note that it seems that the other sects that were requested by the South Horizon Sect to join this war are also waiting to move together.
If this happens, it will be easier for to join them.
It’s probably fine to pretend to be from the Yunhae Brotherhood and blend in.
I did not bother them for three days. As I look at the situation, I decide to leave it as it is. This is because many are surprisingly running for their livelihoods.
Instead, I would wander through the shops around the lake. Through this, I heard talk about the death of the Yunhae Brotherhood’s leader and rumors about how workers wouldn’t get compensation in the future.
That was sothing that I did.
Anyways, after three days of trying to catch a fish, I changed clothes to ones brought by mbers of the brotherhood and finished my life here.
From a man in black to a service agency officer and now to a third-rate warrior from an Unorthodox sect.
The ssengers of the South Horizon Sect likely won’t know my face. Even if they do recognize , it won’t matter.
I can simply participate as the leader of the Low Down Sect if I want.
Before leaving the lake, I sit next to the fishing Woo Cheol-jin.
“Leader Woo Cheol-jin.”
The man’s eyes widen as he hears .
“Uh?”
“If I leave now, you will beco the leader. How long do you plan to live like an underdog?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Do not do anything wrong.”
“Yes. “
“Don’t run away after being paid. Tell the brotherhood mbers to find honest work and make a living. Since the protection fees are being released, at least replace the restaurants serving tasteless foods.”
Woo Cheol-jin responds with an unsure voice.
“I understand.”
“If you have any subordinates who have nothing to do or are worrying about filling their stomach with food, send them to the Black Rabbit Union. It won’t take long. They won’t have to worry about living or eating there. However, there is a risk that they might die while fighting soone strong or during training there, so keep that in mind.”
Woo Cheol-jin stares at .
“You are a leader of a group in the Unorthodox Faction? I thought you weren’t affiliated.”
“The forr leader of Black Rabbit Union died at my hands. Most of his n survived. There is a lot under . If all of you tried to attack… well, you would have ended up as fish food.”
“Ah…”
“Now, do you get it?”
“Yes, I clearly understand.”
Woo Cheol-jin asks with so curiosity.
“But will you leave the South Horizon Sect?”
I reply simply.
“What is more interesting than watching a fight from within? They are pretty strong ones, so it will be a fierce fight. Which side do you think will win?”
“I don’t know.”
“Do you think they won’t win even after I killed the leader of the Baijian Society?”
“Yes.”
“The South Horizon Sect will win.”
I look at Woo Cheol-jin for a mont and wonder if we will et again
‘Maybe this is the last ti?’
As I think so, I tell him.
“I will send soone later to see how people live here.”
“Yes.”
“At that ti, if the food and tea taste better and the store owners are smiling, I will bring you into the Low Down Sect. However, if nothing changes, my subordinates will co here wielding their swords. So might turn you into fish food. Even fish need to eat at sotis.”
“Yes.”
Woo Cheol-jin, who doesn’t look too bright, nods his head and says.
“I will rember the na of the Low Down Sect. So you are really the leader of that place?”
“Yes. I am also fighting that assassin group. My enemies are everywhere. A man who continues to fight by making enemies who didn’t exist before, that is the Low Down Sect.”
“I will continue to look for them.”
I then say goodbye to the lake that has cald for the past three days.
“So this is what a lake is.”
“Yes.”
“The lake is beautiful despite not a single thing being touched by human hands. It was so tranquil that even my craziness disappeared as I looked at it. Thanks to this lake, I was able to rest well.”
Woo Cheol-jin nods as he, too, looks at the lake.
“A beautiful lake.”
I laugh out loud at his words. I think that since he is a man who can see the beauty of the lake, I can leave him as the leader.
I point to the lake.
“Look there. Yah, it is amazing to see that the scenery changes each ti. During the day, the sunlight shines, and at night the moonlight falls. Such a great place.”
I mumble like an old man.
“The sa goes for the people who live near the lake. They eat well and live well without bad people mingling around them. Leave the working people alone. They are busy trying to make a living.”
Woo Cheol-jin is the first to speak again.
“Since you spared , I will do that as much as possible and make sure our brotherhood will not disappear.”
It is then that I see that Woo Cheol-jin is a good person.
“I did a good job selecting you as the leader. Let’s et again. I will leave now.”
“Please look after yourself.”
Kangho is usually filled with killing and fighting. It is also where we repeat a cycle of etings and partings like this.
I leave the lake behind .
After saying goodbye to the lake, I head to Bokyang and line up like a young man about to be enlisted. It looks like I also have to fill in so personal information.
The ones who arrive before go to the barracks to write down their personal details and co out with money. It’s not much, but it is a good amount for those who are suffering. Rumors spreading by word of mouth say that the South Horizon Sect would also give out greater rewards if they won this war.
Why did it feel like sothing so obvious?
There are people from other Unorthodox sides. Quite a few of them also look strong.
Because I am wearing clothes from the Yunhae Brotherhood, I don’t lag too far behind them. Once it is my turn to enter the barracks, the man writing down the details asks .
“Brother, where are you from? You must be a thief.”
I respond after mimicking his accent.
“I am Woo Cheol-jin from the Yunhae brotherhood.”
“Yunhae Brotherhood, I’ve heard that na a few tis… you ca alone?”
“Yes.”
“For money?”
“I have a personal grudge against the Baijian Society.”
“Those people have so many enemies… Are you good?”
“I am undefeated on the shores of my lake. In Yunhae and Jong Pyong Lake, I am undefeated.”
The man sighs.
“It seems like people from there are quite talkative. We will pay you three small silver coins.”
The man who is in charge of paynts looks up in shock.
“Three?”
The examiner clicks his tongue.
“Didn’t he say he was undefeated? Pay him three.”
“Yes.”
I take the three silvers from the younger man and ask.
“How many are usually given?”
The young man replies.
“Just one is a lot.”
I nod.
“The eyes of the examiner aren’t normal.”
“I am busy. Next, please.”
“…”
If I co all the way here and give this little shit a beating, then it wouldn’t be strange if they excluded from the war.
“Arrogant bastard…”
Throwing out words is different, though, which is what the young man did after I left.
“Uh? What did you say?”
The examiner intervenes.
“You. Shut it. What kind of habit do you have of talking to a person who ca to apply?”
After my trip to the lake, I have beco more patient. After getting kicked out of the barracks, I looked at the line of people.
Out of nowhere, a man who overheard the conversation about the three silvers looks at .
Just as we start having a staring contest, a warrior from the South Horizon Sect approaches .
“I will pass on the words of the leader. We depart in an hour. Those who didn’t get paid will be paid later. The goal is the base of the Baijian Society. Do not do anything strange and simply attack. Escape, betrayal, and quarrels among allies will not be tolerated by the leader or us. We hope you won’t go running away either.”
I continue to listen as I walk around with my hands on my back.
‘Where is Situ Kang?’
Anyways, the South Horizon Sect’s territory is no less than a large prefecture. It is definitely much bigger than my village.
I walk around and stop as I hear a voice from the largest barrack.
“We move.”
“Yes.”
A man in armor walks out of the barracks.
His hair is stiff, and his large mouth is raised to the sides to complete his smiling face. His smile doesn’t indicate that he is having fun but rather shows extre confidence in himself.
As I look around, I realize that this man has to be Situ Kang.
As I hold my hands together in the crowd, Situ Kang stops and looks at as he walks down the path.
Why is he staring at while I am hiding?
“Little brother, you have a good face.”
I nod.
“You too.”
As I say that, his servants beco wide-eyed.
“…!”
But the man simply bursts into laughter.
“Good. Good. He’s a recruited ally. How would he know who I am?”
“Leader, still…”
“Let’s go.”
In the end, the n followed him. The last mber cos up to with shock still in his eyes.
I bring my finger to my lip.
‘Shh.’
Situ Kang walks to the center of the camp, where everyone is gathering, looking around as he raises his long sword.
“Brothers! This is the sword of the Baijian Society’s leader. I don’t know if this was stolen, killed, or bought, but I cannot stand a man who simply gives away his weapon. The ti has co to fight! Tricks or not, the Baijian Society has to be brought down tonight. Did you co for money? Good. It would be better if you ca with a grudge against the Baijian Society. Once the battle is over and we subjugate them, those who fought for us will beco my brothers. Let’s go.”
I laugh at his words.
‘Brothers.’
n who risked their lives for manliness are strong, and this man is no exception.
My plan, which ca to my mind while fishing, is still on track.
First, I need to act alongside this man and let them have the Baijian Society.
After we take the Baijian Society, then it’s Situ Kang’s turn.
‘Perfect, perfect…’
I plan to absorb the South Horizon Sect into the Low Down Sect. Situ Kang will bow to as he joins.
Situ Kang fits so well with my thoughts of him, to the point where I am unsure what to do to him.
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