Chapter 2 Outer Hall Duties

Chapter 2: Outer Hall Duties

The day of the monthly Outer Hall meeting arrived.

Despite scrubbing until my fingertips were raw as usual, my duty was changed from gate guard to patrol.

‘Oh no! This is bad.’

The road ahead was long, and yet he’d been assigned the least lucrative duty of all.

How was he ever going to achieve his goal like this!

He relayed the news to Yoo So-pyeong with a heavy heart, but she took it surprisingly calmly.

“It’s a shame, but what can you do? The duty stations rotate.”

True, complaining about it wouldn’t change anything.

After all, the city gate guard duty was the post other squads drooled over.

“Still, we each got a nang, so I suppose we can’t complain too much.”

Yu So-pyeong rose from his seat and asked.

“So, which district are we assigned to?”

“Taeryong-ro.”

Yu So-pyeong’s face crumpled.

***

As the sun set, we swarmed toward Taeryong-ro.

True to its reputation as Guryongseong’s busiest district, taverns and inns lined the streets. In the red-light district, half-naked women leaned against window frames, calling out to passersby.

But why the grim expressions on the team members?

Because this was a posting where you’d get beaten to a pulp.

The Oedang serves a role similar to modern-day police.

In other words, the busier the district, the more prepared you must be for brawls with drunks.

Don’t think of modern society’s drunks.

No matter how much they wear the guise of righteous factions, martial artists are fundamentally psychopathic murderers who swing blades first. You never know what might happen.

Moreover, when a master gets drunk and causes a disturbance, powerless Oedang warriors have no choice but to suffer a string of casualties.

“Just endure it for a month. Next time, I’ll get you a better place.”

“…Yes.”

My encouragement drew only listless responses from the team members.

But such respite was fleeting.

“Thief! Catch that bastard!”

“Eek! What are you touching me for?!”

“You little bastard! Today’s gonna be your funeral!”

“I’ll kill you all!”

Incidents began erupting everywhere like a tidal wave.

“Jin-hyeong and Dang-pal, So-pyeong, you take that side. Yang-gang and I will handle this side.”

“Yes!”

Three hours passed since we split into two teams and ran around.

As the hour neared midnight, Taeryong-ro, once packed tight, grew quiet.

“I’m completely out of it.”

“Isn’t this all because the squad leader got us this weird assignment?”

“Like I have a choice? When the higher-ups say jump, we jump.”

Patting Yanggang, whose jaw was hanging open, they headed toward a nearby inn.

“I’m starving. Let’s grab some food first.”

“Is the squad leader paying?”

“We split it.”

“I always feel this way, but the squad leader is really stingy.”

He doesn’t even know how clean a culture Dutch treat is.

“Welcome!”

“Bring us each a bowl of boiled pork and noodles.”

He flicked coins while ordering, and the waiter’s back bent like a folder.

It was a shame, but whenever I stopped by, he’d always slip me an extra piece of meat.

If I only came once or twice, it wouldn’t matter, but since I’d be a regular, this little extra was a much better deal for him.

“Thank you as always, sir!”

After a short wait, the waiter returned with a tray piled high with food.

“Enjoy your meal!”

“Alright.”

And so the meal began.

“Slurp. Munch munch. Ugh! Gulp! Slurp.”

Yanggang made noises that made my appetite wane, but in a Dutch treat contest, the one who eats the most wins. I too busily moved my chopsticks.

“How about a drink?”

“Sounds good.”

“Two bottles of baijiu here!”

“Yay!”

When Yanggang placed the order, it wasn’t the waiter but the innkeeper himself who brought the liquor.

“You lot. What’s with the liquor during working hours?”

It was Gwak Sam, who had retired from the outer court and opened an inn.

Yanggang, who was usually friendly with him, spoke casually.

“So you don’t like it?”

“If you’re selling it, I’m grateful.”

“Then that’s settled. What’s the big deal?”

“Anyway, is it manageable?”

“The new squad leader is more capable than expected, so things are going smoothly.”

“Hmm, I thought someone from the Dengtiangge would be strict, but that’s surprising.”

As they chatted briefly, a commotion erupted upstairs, and the shop assistant rushed over.

“It’s terrible, Master!”

“What’s all this noise about?”

“Martial artists are fighting upstairs!”

“Ugh!”

Gwak Sam clicked his tongue and rose from his seat.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Responding to my concern, Gwak Sam flexed his arm. Twenty years of experience hadn’t gone to waste; thick muscles rippled beneath the skin.

“I’m still in my prime. Don’t worry.”

“If you say so.”

And so, brimming with confidence, Gwak Sam…

“Oh, oh no. Looks like a fight broke out between masters. You guys need to help out!”

He ran back down, pale as a ghost, just 30 seconds after going up.

“If they’re masters, we should get backup too…”

Thud! Crash!

Hearing the sound of something breaking, Gwak Sam’s face turned even paler.

It had only been a short while since he’d emptied his entire savings to open the inn.

‘This is why putting all your retirement money into a restaurant business is so risky.’

Though in reality, Guryongseong didn’t even pay weekly holiday allowances, let alone retirement benefits.

“If you solve this, I’ll reward you handsomely.”

Guo San spread his hands wide, as if to say he couldn’t offer more.

It signaled he’d even throw in free baijiu until they got sick.

Quite satisfied with the quest reward, I quietly nodded.

“I’ll handle it and be back. Just wait here a moment.”

“Are you sure? They say they’re masters. And not just one, but two.”

“Seems you’ve forgotten. I’m from the Ascension Pavilion.”

“Ah…”

If you were to compare it to 21st-century South Korea, Dengtian Pavilion would be equivalent to Seoul National University’s College of Law.

Even though I applied for the Outer Hall to prioritize work-life balance, the past where I trained martial arts there with blood, sweat, and tears doesn’t disappear.

“I’ll be back before this wine gets cold.”

As I solemnly said this while pouring a cup of Baekju, Yanggang and Gwak Sam looked at me with eyes full of respect.

“This is cold liquor, though…”

As I climbed the stairs to investigate, I saw the two men exchanging punches.

Thud!

The bald man seized his chance and struck the long-haired man’s chest repeatedly.

“Guh!”

Clang!

The long-haired man’s eyes blazed red as he abruptly drew a sword from his waist.

He meant to draw blood for real.

If I delayed any longer, every table on this floor would be smashed to pieces, so I immediately stepped between them.

“Stop that. Sheathe your sword. Don’t you know weapons are forbidden within the castle walls?”

“Does it make sense for a swordsman not to use his sword when fighting a martial artist?”

Well, that’s true.

“Anyway, fighting is forbidden here. If you want to fight, take it outside. And pay for the tables you smashed. That stuff was bought with the owner’s hard-earned money.”

“Hmph! Do you think I, Woongcho of the Swift Sword Slayer, would heed warnings from some outer court warrior?”

The guy spat out a line straight out of a cheap, third-rate villain’s playbook and raised his sword.

‘How utterly uncultured must one be…’

Granted, getting into a fight while drunk is possible. In the martial world, things can be more extreme than modern society.

Still, shouldn’t one avoid causing harm to others?

Even after softening my words, I won’t listen to someone like you. He was grunting and groaning, making me sigh involuntarily.

“You think the same?”

The bald man crossed his arms and shook his head.

“Anyway, that bastard just charged at me unprovoked. If he sheathes his sword, I’m willing to stop fighting too. And I didn’t break the table, so I won’t pay for it.”

Hearing the bald man’s reply, I looked at the so-called Swift Sword and asked.

“What are you going to do? He’s acting like that. You still want to continue?”

“Hmph! I’ll kill you both!”

The bastard instantly folded space and charged at me.

Simultaneously, he drew his sword.

Judging by his momentum and speed, his skill was worthy of the ‘Swift’ in his nickname.

But.

I’d seen enough of this level of swift swordplay at the Ascension Pavilion to be sick of it.

Thwack.

Stepping back to dodge, I seized his right hand before he could draw his sword, using the Golden Water Technique, one of the Ascension Pavilion’s core skills, the Three Yang Hands.

“Gah!”

“Still wanna keep going?”

“Yeeek!”

In the end, the bastard, unable to draw his sword, swung his fist, trying to shake me off.

Thwack! Crack.

My front kick connected with his chest first.

“Gurgle.”

Flying like a cannonball, he slammed into a wooden pillar, foaming at the mouth and passed out.

As I searched his pockets for compensation, the bald man quietly approached and spoke.

“Weng Chao is a pretty well-known ronin in Yunnan Province. To not even be considered a third-rate swordsman? Impressive.”

“See? That’s why you shouldn’t fight after drinking. You can’t even muster half your real strength, and this is what happens.”

“He hardly drank at all.”

“Well, then let’s just say this guy’s weak.”

“What’s your name?”

“Why do you need to know?”

“Just… since we’ll probably cross paths again, it’d be good to know beforehand.”

“Jin Mujeon. Captain of the Seventeenth Division of the Outer Guard.”

“Seventeenth Division Captain Mujeon… I’ll remember that.”

With those words, the bald man left the inn.

He took three silver coins from the unconscious man’s pouch and handed them to Gwak Sam, who grinned like a fool.

He didn’t even notice the remaining two coins were still in my pocket.

***

The day after binding that Wengchao bastard and locking him in the Outer Hall’s prison.

While enjoying a rare rest at home, a familiar face came calling.

It was Zhehualan, a junior from my days at the Ascension Pavilion.

True to her nickname, the Red Flower Sword, Jie Huaran boasted a beauty like a crimson rose. Her arrival lit up the room as if a hundred fluorescent lights had been turned on.

“Long time no see, Senior.”

“Indeed! How long has it been?”

“I haven’t seen you since you transferred to the Outer Hall, so it must be about two years.”

“You should’ve come visit. I would’ve bought you a meal.”

“Really?”

Of course that’s a lie.

He was saving every penny to leave Nine Dragons City as soon as possible. Where would he find money to buy others meals?

“Of course. You’re on night shift today, so you must be tired. Let’s grab a bite sometime later.”

She made a vague promise, and Jie Hualian was delighted.

“Okay. I’ll drop by sometime soon.”

Yeah, right. Even if you come, I won’t buy you anything.

“By the way, what’s up today? You came all the way here.”

“Well, I came to collect the money I lent you.”

The sudden debt collection felt like a bolt of lightning striking his head.

‘I thought you’d forgotten since you hadn’t mentioned it!’

“Th-that… how much was it again?”

“How can the borrower not remember? It’s nine nyang including interest, right?”

“In coins?”

She replied, clearly exasperated.

“Silver coins!”

“Ahem, my pockets have been a bit light lately…”

As he subtly declared a moratorium, Jik Hwa-ran smiled brightly and said.

“Of course, you can pay me later.”

“Really?”

“Just sign a new promissory note.”

Jik Hwa-ran pulled out a promissory note and showed it to him.

It was the infamous loan agreement from Jikryongdang.

‘Gah!’

“Here, here.”

Finally, after retrieving the money from under the mattress, she grinned as she collected the old, toxic debt.

“If you ever need money again, just ask. I’ll give you special interest rates.”

Watching Jik Hwaran leave after those words, I could only shed tears of blood.

Knowing my financial straits and still demanding interest? She really is a heartless bitch.

“Guh! Damn bitch. After all I did for her.”

Come to think of it, she’d been acting strange from the start.

When I wrote her a letter to borrow money, she stuttered.

‘Wh-what, wh-what should I say? Oh, today, I’ll, I’ll listen to everything, so please, tell me anything.’

Then she suddenly threw the money pouch in my face.

‘Bastard.’

She even cursed me out before leaving.

Maybe she really is a personality disorder, just like the infamous Red Dragon Sect Leader’s granddaughter.

Anyway, how am I supposed to cover this loss?

It was a day that pushed the dream of three wives and four concubines one step further away.