The World's Greatest Countryside Martial Arts Academy - chapter 2

Memories of a conversation Jin Cheong-un once had with the General Strategist of the Alliance long ago flashed through his mind.

—Would you take on this task? —What is it? —It seems a brazen merchant has recently been frequently committing land fraud by forging land sale contracts.

The story went that there were swindlers abusing state law by doing things like selling land that had overlapping family registers, selling fake land, or selling property tangled in debt. Jin Cheong-un had replied:

—Why does the Alliance do something like that? Isn’t the person who got scammed just an idiot?

But now.

Is that person me?

Jin Cheong-un felt his mouth go completely dry. Let’s stay calm. It’s not time yet. There’s no way that could be true, right?

It must be a minor misunderstanding.

Couldn’t he have simply misread the address in the first place? As he thought that, a sense of peace quickly returned to his heart.

“Mister, what’s wrong?” “I’m not a mister, I’m your elder brother. It seems I haven’t been home in so long that I confused the house.” “It’s okay. People often come to visit our house anyway.” “……People come to visit often?”

Why would people visit often? No. Yeah, that could happen.

Jin Cheong-un forced a smile.

“It looks like we’ll be neighbors, so I’ll see you again later.”

Moving on, he re-examined the house deed, and wondering if he had gotten the address wrong, he asked the local residents and wandered around the alleyways. And then.

“Oh? You’re here again?”

……It was the right house. Jin Cheong-un felt defeated as he looked at the child who was only peeking through the crack in the door.

“Kid.” “I’m not a kid, I’m So-ryong. Jeong So-ryong.” “Yeah, fine, I got it. Is there an adult inside? I’d like to go in, see them, and have a talk.” “No. My sister said not to let strangers into the house.”

This is maddening. Jin Cheong-un forced himself to catch his breath.

“Then I’ll be right here, so if there are adults inside, tell them to come out.”

I need to confirm how this situation happened. Frankly speaking, what if he bought the house properly, and these people were just living in someone else’s house on their own accord? But the child answered with a blank face.

“There are no adults at home.” “What do you mean there are no adults?” “Only my sister and I live here.”

A girl emerged from a tavern in Cherry Blossom Village, bowing her head and smiling repeatedly.

“Thank you for your hard work today!” “You’re the one who worked hard. Here, I packed some leftover food, so take it.” “Thank you, tavern owner!” “Yes, yes.”

Seo Do-seok, the owner of the White Cloud Tavern, watched the girl’s retreating back with a bitter smile.

“Did So-so leave?”

His wife walked out and asked. Seo Do-seok nodded with a bitter expression.

“She just left. I gave her some food.” “You did well. Oh my, for such a young thing to be already… at such a flowery age.”

Seo Do-seok also nodded with a wry smile. The girl’s name was Jeong So-so. Having turned eighteen this year, she was a native of Cherry Blossom Village and a famous person whom everyone on the street knew.

“Any news from So-so’s father yet?” “It seems not. Sigh, that wretch. Saying it’s too hard to live, he threw away his children and everything else…” “Stop it. She might hear.” “Oh, my.”

Around that time, a bitter smile formed on the lips of Jeong So-so, who had been walking lightly. They probably thought she wouldn’t hear, but their voices were so loud she heard everything.

It’s all in the past anyway.

Jeong So-so chuckled bitterly, fiddling with her roughened hands. While she was currently doing all sorts of menial work, it hadn’t been like this until a few years ago. It all started when her youngest brother, Jeong So-ryong, fell ill with an incurable disease. Resembling their mother, who had left them early due to illness, her brother had never been able to leave his sickbed since he was young. Was it because he thought he couldn’t bear to lose his child, too? Her father had abandoned everything to focus solely on her brother. After that, it was a common, everyday story one could hear anywhere. Betrayed by someone he trusted just in time, scammed, debts piling up, the family finances declining… the common story of a family hitting rock bottom. She didn’t hate her brother. She might hate her father, who ran away in the middle of the night, abandoning them.

—So-so? Why, why did you wake up? —Father? Where are you going? —I… I’m just stepping out for a moment to get medicine for So-ryong, so don’t worry and go back inside to sleep more. Alright? Okay?

“Phew!”

Slap! Slap!

Jeong So-so tapped her cheeks to shake off her complicated thoughts.

“I got paid extra today, so the medicine money is covered! Let’s just keep going like this!”

If she worked diligently, wouldn’t they manage to live somehow? Just as Jeong So-so arrived near her house with a quick pace, the sound of someone arguing reached her ears.

“I’m telling you, I’m not a strange person.” “Saying that makes you look even stranger.” “This is truly frustrating.”

Jeong So-so’s face turned deathly pale.

So-ryong?

She ran over in a hurry, only to come to a sudden stop. There was someone in front of their house. A tall man in shabby, dust-covered long robes, and… even a worn-out scabbard dangling from his waist. The man, who gave off a dangerous vibe even at a glance, let out a deep sigh and pulled something out of his robes.

“Kid. Do you like sweets?”

Then, he held out a confection and even wore a very suspicious smile.

“I’ll give you this, so can you keep it a secret from others and have a sincere talk with your older brother?”

What kind of scene was this? Even to anyone else, that was clearly…!

“So-ryong!”

Jeong So-so tossed the basket she had received from the tavern and rushed over.

“Sister, you’re here?” “Are you okay? Why are you out here! What’s going on!”

It was then.

“Good timing. Are you this fellow’s sister?” “Y-Yes, but… w-who are you…” “First of all, pleased to meet you. I am a person called Jin Cheong-un. Nothing else, but…”

Jeong So-so froze in place while looking at the man.

Gasp!

His hands were covered in scars, and his gaze was so intense it was as if a wild beast were standing before her. Above all, that smile! To anyone, it was a bloody, chilling smile that a villain would wear after easily burying someone!

“K-Kidnapper!” “……Huh?” “Y-You! You came from the Black Tiger Gang, didn’t you! Do you think I wouldn’t know?!” “No, listen here.” “What are you trying to do to our So-ryong! Absolutely not! Do you think I’ll give up this house just because of that? Take me instead!” “……”

Jin Cheong-un looked up at the sky. Now he’s even being called a kidnapper. Hahaha.

“This is Jin Cheong-un mister. He says he wants to talk to sister.”

Jin Cheong-un’s brow twitched.

“I told you, I’m not a mister, I’m your brother.” “How old are you?” “For starters, it’s certain I’m not at the age to be called ‘elderly’.” “I’m ten years old. Aren’t you more than twenty years older than me?” “……So?” “Then you’re almost son-aged, so ‘brother’ is a bit…”

Jin Cheong-un’s expression went blank. Is that something a ten-year-old would say? At that moment, Jeong So-so glared at her brother and scolded him.

“So-ryong, you! I told you not to open the door to anyone who comes knocking!” “I knew they weren’t people from the Black Tiger Gang.” “How would you know that!” “I just know when I see them… Cough! Cough!“

As Jeong So-ryong coughed, Jeong So-so was startled and stroked her brother’s back.

“Why is your body so cold? Were you outside again without listening to sister? Get inside right now!” “But…” “Hurry!”

A dejected Jeong So-ryong walked inside the house. Then, he hesitated and turned his body, then folded his hands in front of his stomach and bowed to Jin Cheong-un.

For such a young kid, he’s quite sharp.

But, to think his body is cold when the weather is this warm. Just then, Jeong So-so approached him with an awkward expression and bowed deeply.

“I apologize. I’ve been rude in many ways.” “……It’s fine. But by any chance, what did you see that made you think I was a kidnapper?”

Jeong So-so glanced at Jin Cheong-un.

Just… where did I look?

In fact, if you looked at him up close, he had a handsome appearance rarely seen in this kind of neighborhood. The problem wasn’t his looks, but his atmosphere. Why were his eyes so deep and cold? It was a chilling feeling, as if looking down into a well in the middle of the night; just looking into his eyes made her feel like her heart was shriveling up.

“You’re really not someone who came from the Black Tiger Gang, right?” “I don’t even know what that Black Tiger Gang bunch is.” “The fact that you speak about the Black Tiger Gang that way in Cherry Blossom Village proves you are definitely someone from out of town.”

Jeong So-so breathed a sigh of relief.

“But what business do you have at our house, martial artist?” Jin Cheong-un muttered.

“Our house…” “……?” “Actually, I came here looking for my house too.” “Your house, you say?”

Jin Cheong-un explained the situation step by step. Listening attentively, Jeong So-so was finally able to offer a smile of relief.

“My, it seems there was some misunderstanding. I apologize, but we have lived here almost since we were born. But for a martial artist to have bought it… that doesn’t make sense, does it?”

Jeong So-so spoke in a very polite tone and bowed her head.

“I am sorry I could not help you, but I hope it gets resolved well.”

Jeong So-so said that and turned to leave. But Jin Cheong-un did not back down.

“This house is indeed my house.” “As I told you, I have lived here almost since I was born…” “I’ve already been issued an identification tag, and I have the house deed too.”

Jin Cheong-un took the tag and deed from his robes and held them out. Jeong So-so, who took them by surprise, read the documents and opened her eyes wide.

“W-What is this… This doesn’t make any sense!” “That’s what I’m saying.”

Jin Cheong-un nodded.

“There’s no proof that this is true either, is there?” “Doesn’t it have the official seal of the Yichang County official? It’s a stamp I went and received myself.” “T-This is what this means! This is a scam!” “That’s exactly what I’m saying!!”

As Jin Cheong-un exploded with frustration, Jeong So-so flinched.

What is it with this person? Why is he like this?

She stuttered in confusion.

“I-I’m sorry for shouting. But if you look at it that way, I also have a land deed!”

Finally, Jin Cheong-un was able to say what he wanted to say.

“That’s great. So let’s go to the government office right now and verify it.” “……?”

Sorry, but I have nothing to be ashamed of. I checked as much as I could, and I paid all the money. This house is mine, Jin Cheong-un’s!

The result was as expected.

“Hmm, the sale contract is certain, and there are no signs of forgery in the official seal. The family register also says the owner of the manor is the Jin family.”

Thump!

Jeong So-so sank to the floor.

“I-It can’t be…”

Watching Jeong So-so, who was devastated, Jin Cheong-un felt a little bit sorry. But what can he do? It couldn’t be helped. He cleared his throat and asked:

“Then is it now certain that the manor is my property?” “Of course. The manor is, yes.”

Jin Cheong-un suddenly stiffened.

“The manor… is?”

Jeong So-so, who had been sitting on the floor, snapped her head up. The official tapped on the booklet containing the register and said:

“But the land is not yours.”

Jin Cheong-un opened his eyes wide.

“No, what does that mean?” “Look here. Doesn’t it say Jeong family, not Jin family?” “……!?”

The official, as if he understood a little bit now, chuckled and stroked his beard.

“It seems the Jeong family’s manor and land were mortgaged… it looks like the creditor sold you just the house deed separately.” “How can such an absurd thing happen! Then what about this! What is this land deed I have! Does it mean it’s fake?”

The official clapped his hands.

“Oh, exactly that.”

What did you say, you punk?

“It was a document forged so cleverly that most people would have been completely fooled. Because I have an eye like mine, I noticed it was fabricated. Hahaha!”

You’re laughing? You’re laughing right now? Wait. More than that, what do you mean by fake now…

It’s a real scam?

Jin Cheong-un felt his neck stiffen. What about his peaceful and wealthy retirement life that he had dreamed of for so long? What about his retirement fund that he had scraped together for over ten years by working like a dog?

“Tsk tsk, you’ve been properly scammed. Judging by the method, it seems to be that guy. Just think of it as bad luck.”

Jin Cheong-un’s voice trembled with rage.

“That guy? What do you mean by that guy?” “Don’t you know? Recently, there is one great swindler roaming the Central Plains forging sale contracts; what was his name again? They even attached a nickname like those martial arts people…”

In that moment, the conversation with the General Strategist flashed through Jin Cheong-un’s mind once again.

—I heard the bastard lived in luxury and went around calling himself the ‘King of Buildings’, didn’t he?

“Did he go around calling himself the King of Buildings?”

Is this foreshadowing the future that lies ahead? Jin Cheong-un’s retirement had been disastrously twisted right from the start.