Free Web Novel“Aigo, what do we do about that?”
A loud commotion rang out, but even the market people didn’t dare step in. They could only watch from a distance with pity in their eyes, unable to approach.
I beckoned to a subordinate waiting in the back. When he came over, I told him,
“Go find out what’s happening.”
After sending him off, I turned to the old man surnamed Seong standing nearby.
“What’s going on?”
“Don’t even mention it. You know the rice cake shop lady, Mrs. Song?”
“Of course. When I was a kid and came to pick up Grandma from the market, she’d always stop me and tell me to take some rice cakes.”
The bond among the market merchants was strong. Whenever something happened, they all stepped in to resolve it together.
When my parents were murdered and Grandma raised me alone, not one of them treated me coldly.
They tried to make sure I had at least something to eat, something to wear.
Back then, I hated it. I hated being poor, hated people trying to help me out of pity.
I thought those precious acts of kindness were charity, and I loathed it.
“Anyway, you know her son, Minwoo, right?”
“Sure do. Wasn’t he about five years younger than me?”
“That bastard comes around sometimes, beats his own mother, and demands money. If she doesn’t give it, he smashes up the shop...”
My brow furrowed at Mr. Seong’s words. Hitting your own family—worse than an animal.
“At first, we tried to stop him, but now we can’t even do that.”
He gave a bitter smile. I was about to ask why when—
“Boss.”
A voice called from behind. I excused myself and stepped aside with the subordinate.
“It’s the rice cake shop in the market. There were three men. Two stood guard at the front, and inside was the owner’s son.”
“And the others are just watching?”
That wasn’t like the market folk. I couldn’t help but ask again, and the subordinate nodded.
“No one dares to step in. Someone tried not long ago, but got beaten in retaliation.”
“Retaliation?”
“Yes. On his way home at night, a group jumped him and beat him so badly he was hospitalized. I’ll need more time for details. I already sent a man to the police station handling the case.”
So that’s why Mr. Seong looked so bitter.
After hearing the full report, I nodded. The subordinate bowed and left.
When I returned, Grandma and Mr. Seong were still talking about the rice cake shop.
“Anyway, don’t get involved, Granny. That bastard doesn’t see anything in front of him.”
Listening quietly, I finally asked,
“Uncle, how’d Minwoo end up like this? People afraid to step in because of the retaliation?”
He sighed heavily, frustration in every breath.
“At first, the youth association got involved too. The youth leader even slapped Minwoo once when he was acting out. That night, Minwoo brought men and smashed the kid’s legs.”
If he was the youth leader, Minwoo surely knew him. Yet he broke his legs?
“The kid hasn’t even been discharged from the hospital yet. The police? Ha! Those bastards are just pretending. They hauled Minwoo in once, questioned him a bit, then let him walk. So the youth leader’s the only one ruined.”
Mr. Seong sighed again.
“They say the kid might limp the rest of his life. The world’s getting harsher by the day.”
“I’ll stop him. Granny, stay here with Uncle.”
“Hey, Muhyuk, don’t. You’ll get hurt. That’s not the Minwoo you knew.”
He tried to stop me at once. Grandma looked worried too, but she didn’t speak up.
“It’s fine. I’ll be back. Stay with Grandma.”
Ignoring their protests, I walked toward the noise.
A big crowd was watching the mess at the rice cake shop. People who knew Mrs. Song stomped their feet in frustration.
Pushing through, I saw the disaster up close.
“Give me money! Stop saying you don’t have any!”
“Even if I wanted to die, I’ve got nothing! Just kill me already!”
Their shouts carried all the way outside. Just like my subordinate said, two thugs blocked the entrance, laughing at the spectators.
“What are you looking at? You here for a show?”
They’d bark threats, making people flinch.
One pulled out a cigarette, handed one to the other.
“Another game tonight? I swear, I’ll win this time. Losing every day’s getting on my nerves.”
The other smirked.
“You? Hell no. Your face shows every hand you get. Quit while you’re ahead.”
“Fuck off.”
Meanwhile, inside, things kept {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} breaking. But the two just smoked and joked.
I shook my head and walked forward.
“Isn’t that Muhyuk?”
People who recognized me called out, but I didn’t stop.
The two guards sneered as I approached.
“What’s this? You wanna play tough?”
“Restrain them. Make them kneel. If they resist, half-kill them.”
“What the fuck did you just say? You crazy?”
Their mocking faces hardened when they saw my men pushing through the crowd.
“Who the fuck are you? What crew are you from? Do you know who we are?”
Of course. The weakest dogs always bark the loudest. I ignored them and headed inside.
The shop was a wreck. Rice cakes scattered, furniture smashed.
Mrs. Song sat on the floor crying, and towering over her was Minwoo, hand raised.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?”
Both Mrs. Song and Minwoo turned toward me. Minwoo sneered.
“Well, if it isn’t Crazy Dog Muhyuk hyung. Still alive?”
“Yeah. Long time, Minwoo. What’s that hand for? Were you about to hit her? Did you do all this?”
He glanced at his raised hand, then kept sneering.
“Why do you care? It’s family business. Since it’s you, hyung, I’ll let you walk. Just go.”
“You? Letting me go?”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You been in Seoul too long, huh? Crazy Dog from Dongsung Tech is long dead. You trying to be a scholar now? Don’t know how that worked out.”
“Enough. Stop this and let’s drink. You can tell me everything then.”
I sighed at how far he’d fallen. But he wasn’t listening.
“Cut the crap. Leave. Take care of your grandma. She’ll be heartbroken if her only grandson gets hurt. I’m letting you go out of respect for old times.”
I shook my head. No more words. I went to Mrs. Song and helped her up.
Her eyes were swollen red from crying. She looked more like a grandmother now. Time had flown. I really had been gone too long.
“Auntie, it’s me, Muhyuk. Remember?”
She nodded through her tears.
“Step outside. I’ll have a talk with Minwoo.”
Her eyes widened. She clutched my arm, shaking her head.
Her tear-streaked face was filled with fear.
“What? Worried because he’s your son? I’ll go easy.”
“No... what if you get hurt too? How could I face your grandma then? Please, don’t.”
She begged desperately.
Market people didn’t know who I was now. At best, they knew I’d done well in Seoul, enough to have men guarding Grandma.
But they didn’t know how much had changed.
“Auntie, it’s me, Kim Muhyuk. You know how much trouble I used to cause.”
“No, don’t. Minwoo’s not the real problem...”
She grew even more frightened, which puzzled me. The market people weren’t weaklings. Why were they all so scared?
But first, I had to calm her.
“Don’t worry. No one can touch me.”
I patted her shoulder gently, then called outside.
“Take her out. Don’t let anyone back in. And those thugs...”
I glanced at Minwoo. A beast that’s lost its mind only understands the whip.
“Get a place ready to hold three. Seoul will send you the address.”
“Yes, boss.”
Even as she was led out, Mrs. Song kept looking back anxiously.
I grabbed a chair, sat down, and said,
“Minwoo, sit.”
“Ha. You’ve gone soft, hyung. Holding back like this?”
“One last time. Sit. I don’t like people looking down at me.”
He smirked.
“You still think I’m that kid who followed you around? Stop bullshitting and leave.”
This bastard... he really knew how to grate on me. I stood up.
“No choice. You need a beating.”
“What? You crazy—”
He couldn’t finish. My fist cracked across his cheek. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
His head snapped to the side, then back, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
“You think I’m weak just ’cause I showed you respect?”
I answered with another punch. The satisfying thud rang out.
Two hits already. Minwoo lost it and lunged, but he was no match.
I pummeled him as he swung wildly. Big body, lots of target.
Soon blood spilled from his mouth.
“You... bastard... not dead yet.”
He spat bloody saliva, panting. I smiled coldly. Not enough yet.
“You still haven’t learned? Then take more, Minwoo.”
“Shut up!”
He screamed and charged. I sidestepped, tripped him, then kicked him hard.
He crashed into the broken furniture.
As he lay groaning, I grabbed his hair and lifted his face.
Covered in crumbs and blood, he was a mess.
“Minwoo, what happened to you? You used to be a good kid.”
“Kim Muhyuk... you’ll never leave Busan alive. My crew won’t let you—”
So he was playing gangster now.
I chuckled, slapping his bloody cheek with the back of my hand.
“A crew? You? Playing gangster? Drop the act. Go inherit the rice cake shop instead.”
“Shut your mouth!”
He still believed in whatever gang he was with.
I slammed his head back down, brushing my hair out of my face with a sigh.
Pathetic.
Even beaten bloody, he glared at me.
I leaned close, voice low.
“Call them. Let’s see those men you put your faith in.”
