Chapter 104

A city that never sleeps.

That was my first impression of Honju. Even though it was a dark night, the streets lined with countless pavilions were bright with lanterns, and the sound of people laughing and talking never stopped.

More than I expected.

It wasn’t quite as lively as a modern city at night, but it was still a well-developed commercial district.

How should I put it? Maybe the culture of this era had a unique charm all its own.

Oh, that looks pretty cool.

Unlike me, who was gazing out the window with interest, Jin Mukyung looked unimpressed.

“It’s noisy. We’d be better off camping outdoors.”

“Come on, we’re only passing through. Why complain?”

Hyuk Mujin’s cheeky reply made Jin Mukyung’s eyebrow twitch.

“If you’d driven the carriage properly, we would have passed through long ago.”

“If the Second Young Master hadn’t chased away the coachman in the first place…”

“What?”

“Nothing. I’m the one who deserves to die.”

Wincing at the sharp glare, Hyuk Mujin began rambling excuses.

“Still, we’re representing the family. Shouldn’t we eat something good at a good place? And let the horses rest, too.”

“Food need only stave off hunger. Besides, who told you to do any of that?”

“The Lesser Family Head.”

“…Brother did?”

“Yes. He repeatedly told me that since we were traveling without any attendants, we should at least take care of our meals and lodging somewhere decent.”

I should’ve been that bastard’s older brother.

Jin Mukyung had a terrible personality and never listened to anyone, but he was completely helpless in front of his only older brother. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed.

“Fine. Just hurry up and go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hyuk Mujin had finally won one battle. With the corner of his mouth twitching, he began driving the carriage.

The carriage stopped in front of a massive four-story wooden building.

The Phoenix Inn. Its signboard, written in elegant calligraphy, was striking.

“This place looks incredibly expensive.”

“Of course it is. This is where the Young Masters of the great Jin Family of Taiyuan will be staying. The Lesser Family Head told me repeatedly—we have to choose the absolute best!”

“……”

He’s awfully excited when it’s someone else’s money.

I shook my head and climbed down from the carriage. An inn boy who looked about middle-school age scurried over and bowed at the waist.

“Welcome!”

He had quite the service ethic for someone so young. Hyuk Mujin stepped forward and asked in a dignified voice,

“Do you have any rooms available?”

“Of course, sir. What kind of room would you like?”

“Give us the largest one.”

“Ah, you mean the private annex?”

The inn boy looked us over. Perhaps because all three of us wore martial robes, he chose his next words carefully.

“I’m sorry, but half the fee for the private annex must be paid in advance.”

“Well, aren’t you a shrewd little bastard.”

Hyuk Mujin deliberately hardened his expression and pulled a heavy money pouch from inside his robes. It appeared to be the expense money Jin Wikyung had given him.

“Fine. How much?”

“Fifty nyang for one night, sir.”

How much was fifty nyang?

I had never used money here and didn’t know how the currency worked, so I could only leave it to Hyuk Mujin.

Well, he’ll handle it somehow.

I glanced to the side. Jin Mukyung seemed to be thinking the same thing as me.

Then again, he was a martial arts fanatic and the young master of a wealthy family. Nothing about his background suggested he would have any sense of money.

Hyuk Mujin, a member of the working class, reacted differently.

“What? How much?”

“Fifty nyang, sir.”

“…Iron coins?”

“Excuse me?”

The inn boy looked Hyuk Mujin up and down, then gave a short laugh.

“Would you like a different room?”

“…!”

The mockery was unmistakable. Hyuk Mujin’s lips trembled before he burst into hearty laughter.

“Ha ha ha! Impressive business sense for such a little brat. A different room? Don’t be ridiculous. Hurry up and show us to the private annex.”

“You’ll have to pay twenty-five nyang first.”

“You little—!”

“Whoa!”

The inn boy flinched at Hyuk Mujin’s bluster.

That guy only got bullied when he was with us. Despite appearances, he was a First Rate martial artist and a candidate to become the next Master of the Gatekeeper Pavilion of the Jin Family of Taiyuan.

A commoner who knew nothing about martial arts—and a child barely into his teens at that—could only be frightened.

“I-I’ll show you the way right away!”

We followed the thoroughly tense inn boy to the private annex. Along the way, we saw a garden that was, with a little exaggeration, the size of a soccer field, as well as a pond where carp swam.

The annex was divided into three large rooms and decorated with objects that looked expensive even at a glance.

“Wow, this room is nice.”

Jin Mukyung nodded as well.

“Not bad. At this size, training won’t be a problem.”

“……”

Is martial arts the only thing in that guy’s head?

While I wandered around sightseeing in the annex, Hyuk Mujin returned after paying for our stay.

“Aren’t you two going to eat?”

“I’m fine. Enduring hunger is a form of training, too.”

Jin Mukyung answered firmly, then left the annex and disappeared into the garden.

“What about you, Captain?”

“Do I look like that lunatic to you? I’m starving to death. Let’s hurry up and order everything they have.”

Was it my imagination, or did Hyuk Mujin’s face suddenly darken?

The Phoenix Inn was one of Shanxi Province’s most famous establishments. There were three reasons for that.

First, it was large enough to accommodate hundreds of people. Second, its dishes were prepared by a former imperial-court chef. And third, there was the beauty of its proprietress.

Despite its steep prices, the Phoenix Inn never lacked customers.

Of course, Hyuk Mujin, who had been born into a family of tenant farmers, had never even dreamed of visiting a place like this.

When else would someone like me ever get the chance?

Half a shichen ago, Hyuk Mujin’s mood had reached its peak. A fine room, delicious food, and even the beauty of the proprietress, whom people said could only be seen on lucky days.

And I get to enjoy all of this with someone else’s money!

Is this a dream or reality?

Then he heard the price of one night in the private annex and wondered again.

Is this a dream or reality?

The same words. A completely different feeling.

He wished it were a dream, but by the time he came to his senses, it was already too late. He had fallen completely for the inn boy’s mockery and even paid the advance fee. It was all over.

All I was given for expenses was fifty nyang.

Fifty silver nyang.

Considering that a family of four could generally live for a year on a little over ten silver nyang, it was an enormous sum.

The problem was that the Phoenix Inn’s prices were on an entirely different level from ordinary prices.

I paid twenty-five nyang in advance, so exactly half is left.

Even that money would be gone once the sun rose. Hyuk Mujin was about to spend all the expense money Jin Wikyung had given him on a single night’s lodging, and sweat dampened the small of his back.

If that damned inn boy hadn’t laughed at me…

Regret always comes too late.

Hyuk Mujin hurriedly began working the abacus in his head.

The expense money is gone. But I brought some emergency savings just in case, so maybe I can somehow manage.

Five silver nyang. Every coin he had saved until now. He had brought it in case of an emergency, never expecting to actually spend it.

If I don’t indulge too much, I should be able to hold out until we return.

But there was one thing Hyuk Mujin had failed to consider.

Jin Taekyung’s appetite.

Slurp. Gulp. Munch, munch.

“Wow, this really melts in your mouth.”

“……”

Beggar’s Chicken, Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork, Maechae Guyuk,¹ scallion tofu, Kung Pao chicken… Every time one of those dishes—or any of the dozen others—arrived at the table, Jin Taekyung’s hand moved like lightning.

“Wow, this is really good. So juicy.”

“……”

“You’re not eating? Then I’ll finish the rest too.”

“……”

“Wow, this broth is incredible.”

“…Please, eat as much as you like.”

At some point, a single tear rolled down Hyuk Mujin’s cheek.

The dishes served so far already cost five silver nyang.

His last hope was gone. Judging by the way things were going, that pig looked ready to devour another twenty plates.

Hyuk Mujin wanted to smash a plate over the pig-like bastard’s head, but he restrained himself. He didn’t want to lose his life on top of his entire fortune.

Jade Emperor, Primordial Heavenly Venerable. Please, stop that bastard.

Just as he cursed the heavens—

Crash!

The hardest parts of life in Murim were, first, survival and, second, the food. For some reason, everything was spicy, salty, and greasy, leaving me craving soup at every meal.

In that sense, the dish just placed on the table held special significance.

Chicken-and-corn soup.

It was a kind of corn soup with egg whisked through it until silky smooth.

I lowered my head slightly and smelled it. The distinctive savory scent of corn lingered at the tip of my nose.

Yes, this is it.

A smile rose naturally to my face. My stomach had already started feeling greasy. Once I settled it with the chicken-and-corn soup, I could probably clear another ten plates.

All right, then, now…

Just as I grasped the hot ceramic bowl with pleasant anticipation—

Crash! Clatter, clatter!

“…Huh?”

It happened in an instant. A liquor bottle shattered in the middle of the table, exploding into hundreds of ceramic shards that flew in every direction.

Along with them came the little liquor left inside.

Pitter-patter.

Drenched by the sudden shower, I was left speechless.

How could this happen?

The chicken-and-corn soup I had been eagerly awaiting—the warm, savory broth that would gently soothe my stomach—was no longer there.

What now filled the ceramic bowl was nothing more than food waste mixed with liquor and pieces of pottery.

Across from me, Hyuk Mujin stared with his mouth hanging open.

“Oh, Jade Emperor. Primordial Heavenly Venerable.”

Ignoring his nonsense, I slowly turned toward the direction the bottle had come from.

Five men were looking our way and snickering.

“Oh, Brother. Sorry about that.”

“Who can you blame when your hand slips? We can just order him another one.”

“Hey, don’t say anything crazy. Didn’t you see how much that bastard’s been eating?”

I watched them snicker among themselves, then crooked a finger.

The one who had apologized first. That bastard was the culprit who had ruined my chicken-and-corn soup.

“What, you want me to come over?”

He gave a short laugh, rose from his seat, and strode toward us.

His martial robes reeked of sweat and blood, and a curved saber hung from his left hip. That was the source of his confidence.

All right. Let’s handle this rationally.

I spoke calmly.

“The ancient sages said that even a dog shouldn’t be disturbed while it’s eating. Apologize properly and order the food again. Starting with the chicken-and-corn soup.”

“Well, listen to the little brat lisp.”

“What about the apology?”

“Come on, kid. Stick out your tongue. I’ll pull it out for you.”

He grinned, revealing teeth rotted black.

The horrific stench of his breath wiped away my appetite as if it had been washed clean. I supposed I would have to eat the thoup later.

“Open your mouth. My fist is going in.”

As the words left my mouth, I drove my fist into his face.

Crack!

There were three reasons the Phoenix Inn was famous.

But the third was why so many people—men in particular—flocked there.

The beautiful proprietress, whom one could only meet on a lucky day.

And today was that day.

“It’s noisy.”

The proprietress’s clear yet languid voice was not directed at herself. The presence outside her door vanishing proved it.

A moment later, a quiet voice came from beyond the door.

“A fight has broken out between martial artists.”

The proprietress clicked her tongue softly before speaking.

“Did anyone die?”

“One man subdued the other six.”

“Who is he? Where is he from?”

“He’s the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi.”

The proprietress laughed soundlessly.

“What a welcome name. I should go see his face after all this time.”

She rose from where she had been reclining. Moonlight filtering through the window gleamed upon her slender, long-stemmed tobacco pipe.