Jimin's Affair
For Jimin, subduing the thugs of the back alleys and collecting protection money had become a way of making a living.
Before long, he was known as the "big brother" of the slums.
So-un was not comfortable with it.
He wished Jimin would step away from such dealings if possible.
One evening, the Fat One and their leader came running, breathless.
They had rushed so hard they could barely steady their voices.
"What is it?"
Jimin's voice dropped coldly.
His expression hardened, carrying the air of a true underworld boss.
Usually, Jimin went to find them—rarely did they come to him first.
"They've issued a challenge.
Tonight, outside the city at the public cemetery. Ten from each side to settle it."
The "two sides" meant the Small Blade faction under the leader's control and the Great Blade faction across the way.
There had been no serious feud between them before.
The problem was the road.
A new road had been cut, linking the upper and lower districts, and a market had formed along it.
From the south, it lay within Small Blade territory.
From the north, it could just as easily be claimed by Great Blade.
The boundaries overlapped.
It was the result of officials who rearranged roads and markets without understanding the underworld's balance.
Had they known the upper streets belonged to Great Blade and the lower to Small Blade, perhaps they would have drawn some visible line between commercial zones.
But such reasoning had no place here.
No one designs roads according to the authority of alleyway bosses.
Friction was inevitable.
And in their world, such friction demanded a fight that could determine survival.
If they backed down here, they would be mocked elsewhere and attacked again.
Fear of appearing weak forced them to fight harder.
It was like brushing shoulders on the street—if one endured it silently, every passerby would strike you in turn.
"Ten men…?"
Jimin asked slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting though his eyes remained cold.
"Yes."
The leader nodded.
"Why do I have to go?"
He shifted uneasily.
"I… ate something bad yesterday. My stomach's upset. I can't fight tonight."
"Not scared?"
"Of course not!"
"Not lacking skill?"
"My skill is fine. I could finish them in one blow!"
Jimin rose and tapped his shoulder lightly.
"So you rest while I fight?"
"That's not it! I'll accompany you and stand guard till the end."
"You said you're sick."
"I can walk that far."
"Sounds like a lie."
"It's the truth."
Jimin snorted.
"Fine. Should I kill them? All ten?"
The leader flailed his hands.
"No! No need to kill them. They're pitiful men. Just beat them enough so they never dare again."
"There's a code even here?"
"Yes. We hate them, but not enough for murder."
"As hard as they beat you before?"
"Three times harder!"
"Too complicated. Kill or not?"
"Not! Just don't kill them. No broken bones either. They still have to live."
"Whose side are you on?"
"Small Blade, of course!"
"Time?"
"Early evening… around sunset."
"Useless."
When dismissed, they did not leave.
"Why are you still here?"
"We'll go with you."
"You think I won't show?"
"Never!"
"Then bring something to drink."
They ran.
Left alone, Jimin smiled faintly.
"Ten men… outside the cemetery…"
If he expanded territory, their fortunes would improve greatly.
So-un and Jimin walked south with their hands clasped behind their backs.
The sun was sinking, casting long red light along the city walls.
Behind them, the Fat One hurried up carrying cheap liquor.
Outside the city, the cemetery lay bathed in dusk.
Old gravestones leaned at angles.
Dry grass swayed.
A crow cried and took flight.
Great Blade had arrived first.
Dark headscarves, short sabers, iron clubs.
Ten formed the front line, dozens behind in a circle.
Small Blade gathered opposite.
The leader and the Fat One stood in front, their men behind gripping weapons nervously.
The two groups faced each other across open ground, like a stage prepared for a duel.
"They've come."
A scar-faced man stepped forward.
"Ten."
Ten men advanced in unison, gravel crunching beneath their feet.
Jimin stepped forward alone.
Only a short blade at his waist.
Murmurs rose behind her.
"Alone?"
"Can she manage?"
"Ten, right?"
She did not look back.
The sun dipped lower.
Someone from Great Blade laughed.
"One against ten? And a woman?"
Jimin's lips curved.
"I'm not blocking. I'm cleaning up."
She rolled her wrist once.
The perimeter was sealed.
No one would interfere.
Air tightened.
Jimin took one more step.
All ten men gripped their weapons at once.
The last light fell.
The fight was about to begin.
"Those are them?"
"Yes."
The Fat One bowed deeply, respectfully.
If she won, he looked ready to offer anything in return.