Three-Eyed Sword Cho Cheol.
He isn’t exactly one of the top martial artists in Hubei Province. However, if you’re a martial artist from Hubei and hear the nickname ‘Three-Eyed Sword’, you might think of him as a master hailing from a ronin background.
If we were to compare him to soccer, he isn’t a superstar who climbed the ranks from a prestigious youth academy and debuted straight into an elite club. Rather, he’s the type of player who, after diligently playing in muddy school fields, can immediately contribute to a first division league team in Korea.
He was a player almost impossible to hire for a manager juggling a bookstore and a delivery restaurant while also running a local soccer club, and that’s what the Three-Eyed Sword Cho Cheol was.
And now, the Three-Eyed Sword was up for grabs right in front of me. I had no intention of letting this opportunity slip through my fingers.
“I pulled him out of the water and snatched away his baggage, so while he’s still dazed, I need to get him to sign the contract quickly.”
There were ways to ask the Seocheon Post Office for muscle, but that would complicate my relationship with the Tang Family, and I needed to show some sincerity to the post office too.
So it was better to take this chance and pull the Three-Eyed Sword to my side.
“You have a proposal for me?”
With a look of disillusionment that he couldn’t shake off, Cho Cheol asked me.
“Brother, do you have somewhere you need to go?”
“Where would a ronin have to go? The Ho Ga-Jang that I relied on has fallen, and I have no money. I guess I’ll just roam around again, eating from my sword like in the old days.”
Maybe it was the realization that at over forty, he had to start all over again, but Cho Cheol let out a big, bitter sigh.
“How about settling down in a new hometown?”
“In Wuhan?”
“Yes. How about joining the Joseon Expatriate Association?”
Before pushing the contract, I wanted to gauge Cho Cheol’s thoughts since he had nowhere else to go.
“The top martial artists from Hubei flock to this place, Wuhan. I appreciate the offer, but there isn’t much for a wandering ronin to eat in this town.”
That’s true.
Even if he learned from a prestigious sect and tried to establish a martial status, or set up a post office, or started a business, it would all be in Wuhan.
As a city where logistics and people gathered and a lot of money circulated, it naturally became a place of fierce competition.
Like a decent, well-known player who transfers to a country with a pro team that pays a lot despite the league being subpar, for the Three-Eyed Sword, it would be better to settle in a proper county rather than in an intensely competitive Wuhan.
But then…
“What if there’s a place that desperately needs the Three-Eyed Sword?”
I had no intention of giving up the contract after just one refusal.
“Me?”
Cho Cheol looked at me as if trying to understand what I meant.
“Il-gu! Come here!”
Before the Three-Eyed Sword could leave the negotiation table, I had to present my terms. I called out for my Il-gu brothers waiting in the corner.
“Your brother!!!”
Even though I had told them repeatedly to call me Club Leader, they still forgot and rushed over enthusiastically.
“It’s nice to meet you for the first time.”
“These are my Il-gu brothers: Choi Il-gu, Il-gu, and Sam-gu, from left to right.”
I introduced the reliable attacking players of the Joseon Expatriate Association to the Three-Eyed Sword.
“Hello! Three-Eyed Sword! I’ve heard so much about you!!!”
“Your voice is quite powerful. You seem to have a solid build; did you learn martial arts too? Why are you introducing these kids to me?”
The needed people were gathered at the negotiation table. I got straight to the point.
“The Joseon Expatriate Association is planning to open a casino soon.”
The casino stolen from the fallen organization by Im Ha-yeon was set to open, entrusted to the Il-gu brothers.
“A casino…?”
“Yes, a relatively large one in Wuhan.”
“Little brother, don’t!”
As I spoke with a hint of pride, the Three-Eyed Sword doused my enthusiasm with an icy glare.
“What?”
“Since you saved my neck, allow me to give a piece of advice. It’s true that it’s not easy for black-haired people to make money. But opening a casino is out of the question. The Hao Clan won’t just sit by. They’ll dirty their hands and cause trouble, and if things go wrong, many of your guys might end up in bloodshed.”
“Brother.”
“Take my advice. Those in factions are more vicious than the worst of ronins. They won’t just let someone take away their meal.”
With a mix of gentle warning and concern in his voice, the Three-Eyed Sword spoke.
It’s true that casinos have always been places where one sees dirty business, regardless of the era. That’s why I entrusted the business to the Il-gu brothers, who were used to handling rough matters.
Thanks for your concern, Brother Cho. But…
“I’ve already received consent from the Hao Clan’s leaders.”
“…What? How?”
Since the leader of the Hao Clan is my lover. I decided not to enlighten Cho Cheol about that.
“We took over without major issues. In fact, those who want to obstruct us might face consequences from the Hao Clan.”
“Ah… I don’t really know how far your connections go.”
In disbelief but also with an element of amusement, Cho Cheol chuckled, apparently not buying into my claims fully.
Alright, we’ve confirmed the conditions of our new team. Now it’s time to present the contract.
“Brother Cheol, so, regarding the Joseon Expatriate Association…”
“I refuse.”
He shot back before I could even pull out the contract.
“What?”
“Are you literally asking me to become the sword of the Joseon Expatriate Association? I refuse.”
“Can you explain why?”
The casino might be a pretty decent workplace compared to what others might perceive.
The facilities aren’t bad, and if he wishes, I can even set up a bunk bed for accommodations.
After a year, I could even offer a vacation day once every six months. I’d need the CEO’s stamp and all, but still!
“That’s a tempting offer. If I settle down in Wuhan, there will only be a few times when my sword would be needed for just a mere casino. Occasionally, I could lend a hand at the Joseon Expatriate Association, but that seems far less than what you’re asking.”
He seems like a true martial arts ronin, adept at handling contracts having moved teams frequently.
“Exactly. But could I know your reason for declining?”
The working environment and conditions don’t seem bad at all; why would he reject it?
Waiting for his words, Cho Cheol seemed to ponder for a moment and then finally spoke up.
“…I fear it wouldn’t suffice for my retirement.”
His reason was simple.
“Retirement?”
“I’ve become penniless. I may need to work hard for the next ten years, but can the income from a single casino in Wuhan secure my future?”
“…”
The casino operated by the Il-gu brothers is technically the property of the Hao Clan’s lord.
The income from the casino in Wuhan is considerable, but after deducting operational costs, bribes, and tribute fees, there wouldn’t be enough left over to give to the Three-Eyed Sword.
I wasn’t clear exactly how much he had seen through, but it was evident he wanted to find a place that would offer him a substantial payout willingly, even if it meant risking his life.
“I’ll take my leave now. If fate allows, we may meet again.”
“You’re getting up without even discussing the contract terms?”
Though Cho Cheol’s thoughts were reasonable—they came from the long experience of a ronin—they still left me a bit puzzled.
“I told you that a casino alone wouldn’t secure my retirement…”
“Is the contract payment this inn then?”
I didn’t bring this contract for nothing.
“…What?”
As Cho Cheol was about to turn and leave, he froze in place.
“The contract period is ten years. The complete ownership transfer will occur in ten years, but you can start your business as early as a few days from now.”
I offered something that someone who had just lost everything would desire the most. Even someone adamantly rejecting couldn’t help but at least glance back at the offer.
“Wasn’t this inn a bait to lure me out?”
“I told you, didn’t I? Everything is true except for the part where I called it dog poop.”
I subtly downplayed the scale of the lie I told earlier. I might have hidden my past due to the request of the Joseon Expatriate Association, but everything else was the truth.
With a confident smile, I said.
“You really mean you’re giving me this inn?”
Cho Cheol looked around the inn in disbelief.
“I won’t be able to pay you a fortune, as you said, Brother Cheol. But this property, which is highly suitable and perfect timing, is something I can buy for you right now.”
He didn’t have enough to refuse me outright.
But contracts don’t always revolve around money; they also weigh the other person’s desires. By understanding what the opposite party wants the most first, you can touch upon their greed and needs.
With that, all that remains is one thing. To whisper sweetly.
“This is an invitation you can’t refuse.”
“Hmm.”
“You’ll become the innkeeper right away. No need to prepare for ten years for your retirement. When something urgent comes up, just stretch out a bit and prepare for your second life.”
You intended to live a new life away from the martial artists, didn’t you?
The Joseon Expatriate Association needed the reputation of the Three-Eyed Sword to intimidate others and wasn’t aiming for anything that required life-or-death stakes.
I was essentially selling this deal like a home shopping channel. Sign the contract now and start being the owner of the inn right away. All income from the business will go to Cho Cheol. He can begin preparing for his retirement right now. Just contact me when you need someone.
There was no way he wouldn’t nod along willingly at that.
“Is this your way of doing things?”
Cho Cheol said, glancing around the spacious inn for a while before smirking at me.
I was so close to swaying him over. It felt oddly distant. I had laid out every possible condition, yet something seemed to be missing.
“It is the way of the Joseon Expatriate Association.”
There’s still a method left.
“The way of the Joseon Expatriate Association?”
I turned toward the Joseon expats. They were struggling to make a living, but they had all rallied to help when our elder was in crisis.
“We might be each oppressed individuals, but together, we become strong. You can gain an inn to secure your retirement thanks to the Joseon Expatriate Association, and the Il-gu brothers benefit from having a big brother who can back them up during difficult times, and what’s more for me… well, I’ll just get another franchise. Everyone benefits, right?”
As I touched on the sense of obligation in Cho Cheol, I appealed to his humanity.
“Everyone benefits, everyone benefits.”
I cautiously presented the contract to the wavering Cho Cheol. I looked at him like I was gazing at an elder from my hometown, infusing it with a sense of affection as I asked.
“Will you become the sword of the Joseon Expatriate Association?”
He seemed to be mesmerized by the contract, staring at it for a while.
This was the contract that allowed Cho Cheol to live a second life as the Three-Eyed Sword. A contract that would launch him ten years ahead into his future.
In the end, Cho Cheol smiled, as if he finally yielded.
“…After opening, I might have to slaughter a pig for the first time in ten years.”
“I’ll stop by for a bowl of soup too.”
