The noodle shop owner brightened at my words and nodded eagerly.
“Of course. I’m listening.”
Judging by the way he even pulled out brush, ink, and paper from beneath the table, he hadn’t said it merely out of courtesy.
With him showing this much enthusiasm, even I enjoyed giving advice.
“First, stock up on plenty of ingredients.”
“Pardon?”
“With food this good, your business is bound to thrive. You should prepare in advance.”
“Thank you for the kind words.”
“I’m not merely being polite. I’ve eaten noodles all across the empire during my trading journeys, and yours easily ranks among the ten best. You should be confident in what you serve.”
His face lit up at my praise.
“But once your food makes this place a success, some people are bound to resent it.”
“I’m not sure what you mean all of a sudden…”
I continued explaining for his sake, seeing how flustered he looked.
“That sort of behavior becomes especially common during a major event like this. One of the nastier tricks such people use is interfering with your supply of ingredients.”
“Ah, so that’s why you told me to buy plenty in advance.”
“Exactly.”
I nodded.
“There may also be people who deliberately make a scene, claiming they found a foreign object in their food.”
He asked with a worried expression.
“How should I handle that?”
“You’ve been in business for a long time. Surely you’ve dealt with plenty of customers like that before?”
“I have. Even back when I ran my shop in my hometown, people like that came by from time to time.”
“What did you do then?”
“I couldn’t tell whether it was my mistake or one of their schemes, so I had no choice but to apologize.”
“That’s right. Apologize quickly. The important thing is not to let the situation drag on.”
He let out a sigh.
“If it truly was my fault, then apologizing a hundred times would only be right. But having to bow my head even to people who did it on purpose… It made me feel pathetic. I’d wonder whether this was really what I went into business for, and what could possibly make people behave that way.”
“I understand. Anyone who runs a business is bound to think that sooner or later. I don’t know whether this will comfort you, but I’ve found that people who profit unfairly always lose just as much in one form or another.”
I smiled.
“Still, I’m sure you’re worried. You must be wondering whether all those lies will pile up, spread like the truth, and eventually ruin your business.”
“That’s exactly it.”
Rumors were always frightening.
Even without experiencing something personally, people instinctively stayed away once they heard the rumors.
“Tell those people to write down their names.”
“…Pardon?”
“You can usually tell at a glance when someone is doing it on purpose, can’t you? Tell them you don’t have enough money on hand to compensate them properly, but that you’ll pay them a substantial sum later. Ask them to write down their names and where they’re staying. Then explain that, since you’ll be carrying so much money, the patrol will accompany you when you deliver it, and ask for their understanding.”
“You’re saying I should one-up them.”
“Yes. Mentioning the patrol will serve as a warning to anyone without a conscience.”
“But what if they give me their real names?”
“Then give me the list. I’m the one suggesting this method, so I’ll take care of the aftermath as well.”
I continued.
“And once you close for the day, deposit the money at a money house immediately.”
“Pardon? You mean I should deposit it every single day?”
“That’s right. Request a patrol escort on the way there as well.”
“…May I really call the patrol for something like that?”
“You pay the stall fee precisely so you can receive that kind of aid and protection. It cost you enough, so make full use of it.”
“That is true.”
“With this many people gathered in one place, far more thieves than usual will be drawn here. And even if your money is stolen, don’t endanger yourself trying to recover it. Your life matters more than money.”
“Understood.”
“Focus on the money you’ll earn in the future, not what you’ve already lost. Can you promise me that?”
“I promise.”
That seemed to cover all the important advice.
Just then, another customer arrived, and the owner stepped away to greet them.
I smiled and glanced around.
It looks like everyone else is finished. I’m the only one left.
I was about to raise my chopsticks and finish my noodles when the owner’s daughter approached.
“Is there anything else you need?”
Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang raised his hand.
“Ah, would you like another bowl of noodles?”
He nodded, then hesitated as though he still had something more to say.
“Um…”
“Oh, and you’d like extra beef?”
He nodded twice.
When he drew a circle with his hands, she spoke again.
“You want the meat left in large pieces instead of chopped small?”
He nodded twice.
I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight.
At that point, she might as well be reading his mind.
“How in the world did you know?”
She smiled softly at my question and answered.
“Call it intuition.”
“Pardon?”
“I just guessed from his reactions.”
Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang was so poor with words that figuring out what he wanted to say was rarely easy.
Yet she had understood him without the slightest effort.
Her ability to read people was anything but ordinary.
She looked over our group and asked,
“Would anyone else like another bowl?”
Everyone, myself included, raised a hand.
The noodles were good enough to make us all want a second bowl.
Besides, everyone had been working since early morning. They were bound to be hungry.
.
.
.
The Murim Grand Assembly was divided into two parts: meetings in the first half and martial matches in the second.
We were still in the opening stage.
There were still several days left before the martial matches began.
Father spoke while we were eating breakfast.
“Jin-ho should be reaching Luoyang around now.”
Apparently, Brother Jin-ho had originally planned to leave Hubei with Father and travel to Luoyang together.
Since the Murim Grand Assembly’s martial matches featured warriors at the Peak Realm and above, watching them was an invaluable learning opportunity for any martial artist.
There was no chance Brother Jin-ho would miss an opportunity like this.
However, his trading expedition had taken longer than expected, so Father had told him to come straight to Luoyang as soon as he finished.
“Didn’t you say he was somewhere in Shaanxi?”
“Near Mount Hua, to be precise.”
“Based on when he said he would set out, he should arrive sometime today.”
“Yes. I think it would be good for you to go meet him.”
So that was why Father had brought up Brother Jin-ho’s arrival.
I had no reason to refuse, and I had wanted to do it anyway, so I readily agreed.
“Yes. Understood.”
Outer Chief Administrator Go Il-pyeong, who was eating breakfast beside us, spoke after hearing my answer.
“I would go meet Deputy Merchant Lord Jin-ho myself if I could, but I already have people I promised to see today.”
Outer Chief Administrator Go was both the Eunhae Merchant Group’s Chief Administrator and a martial artist known by the epithet Heaven-Shaking Sword.
He must have had plenty of old acquaintances to meet and catch up with at the Murim Grand Assembly.
The relationships he strengthened here would eventually help Brother Jin-ho as well.
Connections worked much the same in the world of commerce as they did in the martial world.
The safest and most reliable connections began with an introduction from someone you already knew, and that was how one gradually expanded their network.
Of course, a personal introduction did not always lead to a good outcome, but the odds were still overwhelmingly favorable.
After all, the person making the introduction was putting their own name and reputation behind it, so they tended to do so responsibly.
After breakfast, I made a few simple preparations and headed to Luoyang’s western gate with the escort guards.
The road there passed through the commercial district.
Hm?
Something suddenly made me stop.
“Is something wrong, my lord?”
At Palgap’s question, I pointed to the side.
A noodle shop stood there beneath a banner reading Haechun Noodles.
It was the shop where I had offered the owner advice before.
What had stopped me was the sight of Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang sitting there, eating noodles.
He must have really taken a liking to them.
He had come all the way here first thing in the morning just to eat another bowl.
Just then, the owner’s daughter approached him and began speaking with him.
That was assuming it still counted as a conversation when one person was responsible for more than ninety percent of it.
Well, conversations came in many forms. As long as both sides understood each other, it was still a conversation.
We started walking again, and Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am spoke.
“I’ve got a feeling about this.”
“A feeling about what?”
“Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang. Why do you think he’s eating alone at that noodle shop this early in the morning?”
“Because the noodles are good?”
Palgap let out a quiet laugh at my answer.
“I know you’re joking, my lord.”
“I am, but still… surely not. That’s jumping to conclusions.”
We still did not know anything for certain.
Before long, we reached Luoyang’s western gate.
We went outside and waited for quite some time, but Brother Jin-ho was nowhere to be seen.
The sun is already high in the sky. Why isn’t he here yet?
I grew increasingly anxious.
Did something happen to him?
“My lord, should some of us head out and look for Young Master Jin-ho?”
Escort Guard Seo Wu must have noticed my unease. I nodded.
“That would be best. Sitting still and waiting has never suited me.”
I flicked my sleeve.
“Geumryeong.”
“Kui!”
Geumryeong poked its head out.
“Go find Brother Jin-ho for me.”
“Kui!”
Geumryeong nodded in understanding, then immediately shot forward.
Some time later, Geumryeong returned.
Judging by how long it took to come back… the distance was greater than I expected.
Something had definitely happened.
“Lead the way.”
My companions and I mounted our horses, and Geumryeong settled atop the head of the River-Crossing Horse I was riding.
“Kui! Kui!”
We need to ride fast?
I nodded and tightened my grip on the River-Crossing Horse’s reins.
“All right. But how fast are we talking?”
“Kui!”
You’ll take care of that, so I should just hold the reins tight?
“We’re picking up speed!”
“Yes!”
The River-Crossing Horse immediately began accelerating.
Isn’t this a little too fast?
Fortunately, before long, the River-Crossing Horse gradually began to slow.
That must mean Brother Jin-ho is nearby.
I spread out my Qi and searched for Brother Jin-ho’s presence.
Instead, I sensed a considerable number of people nearby, and the faint clash of weapons reached my ears.
“Killing intent!”
“A battle is underway. We should hurry.”
I urged the River-Crossing Horse forward, and the others followed close behind.
Before long, we saw a large group locked in battle.
Some wore the uniforms of the Eunpoong Division, others wore all manner of different clothing.
There were also people who appeared to belong to an escort bureau.
Brother Jin-ho was among them.
“I don’t know what’s happening, but let’s help Brother Jin-ho first.”
“Understood.”
We plunged into the melee and fought our way toward Brother Jin-ho.
“Brother! What happened?”
“You made it? I’ll explain later!”
“What do you want us to do?”
Brother Jin-ho swung his spear as he answered.
“Take down everyone except the Eunpoong Division and the escort bureau!”
“Can we kill them?”
“Yeah. They’re scum who deserve to die!”
If Brother Jin-ho was furious enough to say that, then our enemies must have committed crimes worthy of it.
The escort guards and I were overwhelmingly stronger than our opponents, so we brought the situation under control in moments.
“Whew. Thanks.”
“Yeah, you’d better be grateful.”
Brother Jin-ho then called toward the rear.
“It’s safe now. You can come out.”
A moment later, the door of a carriage opened, and a woman cautiously poked her head out.
“Is it truly safe?”
“Yes.”
I looked at Brother Jin-ho, and he explained.
“I saw them being attacked while I was on my way to Luoyang. I agreed to help them and was heading back toward Mount Hua when we were attacked again.”
A man with one shoulder wrapped in bandages gave a fist-and-palm salute and introduced himself.
“I am Escort Chief Gi Chil-du of the Yongung Escort Bureau.”
“I am Eun Seo-ho, the third Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
Brother Jin-ho puffed out his chest at my introduction.
“He’s my younger brother. He’s even earned the epithet Handsome Young Hero.”
Why are you the one looking so proud?
Escort Chief Gi’s eyes widened when he heard my name.
“You’re the Handsome Young Hero?”
“I’m embarrassed to say that people do call me that. From what I can see, you were escorting the young ladies in that carriage. Is that correct?”
“Yes. The Yongung Escort Bureau accepted a commission to escort those young ladies to Mount Hua.”
“Ah, then they must be young ladies who were staying in Luoyang.”
“That is correct.”
A great many martial artists gathering in Luoyang also meant that some of them would inevitably be worthless scum.
That was why, whenever a major gathering of martial artists took place, young ladies would temporarily seek refuge with the Mount Hua Sect.
The Mount Hua Sect’s disciples usually escorted them, but some were unable to join those groups.
When that happened, they hired an escort bureau separately and traveled to the Mount Hua Sect that way.
Master had accepted a similar commission during the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.
“However, there were men targeting the young ladies.”
It was obvious what they wanted with them.
“They said they intended to sell them to pleasure houses as courtesans. After hearing what had happened, Great Hero Eun of the Eunhae Merchant Group generously offered to escort us all the way to Mount Hua. Having lost my guards, I had no choice but to accept his offer despite my shame.”
“I see.”
“Then, while we were under attack for a second time, Great Hero Eun Seo-ho, the Handsome Young Hero, came to our aid.”
I looked at Brother Jin-ho.
There was plenty I wanted to say, but safely delivering those young ladies to Mount Hua came first.
“I’ll come with you.”
And so, we set out for Mount Hua.
“Where exactly are we headed? Do we need to climb all the way up Mount Hua?”
Escort Guard Myeong Jong answered my question.
“No. The carriage can’t make it up Mount Hua, and the climb would be too much for those young ladies as well.”
“True enough.”
Mount Hua was hardly some neighborhood hill.
“They book several inns in the village at the foot of Mount Hua and have the young ladies stay there. The Mount Hua Sect’s disciples guard those inns.”
“So that’s how it works.”
The closer we drew to our destination, the more complicated Escort Guard Myeong Jong’s expression became.
Of course it did.
It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that Mount Hua was the place where he had spent his entire life.
But after an ugly incident, he had only narrowly escaped expulsion from the sect.
Before long, we reached the inn below Mount Hua.
That was when it happened.
“You! You bastard!”
Someone came charging toward us from the distance…
Huh? W–wait?
Wham!
–TL Notes–
Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!
If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/InsanityTheGame
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt