The very next day, Jin Cheon-hee moved with urgency to procure another two-story building. Rather than constructing something from the ground up, he purchased an existing inn.
“Let the children reside there,” he instructed, “and ensure every single one of them is registered under the Hundredfold Benevolence Foundation.”
He then ordered Man Seon to request administrative personnel for the Foundation directly from the White Qilin Medical Pavilion headquarters. With Man Seon handling the logistics, Jin Cheon-hee immediately headed to the Wandering Vagrants Market, accompanied by Cheon Woo.
The Wandering Vagrants.
They were the drifting blades of the Murim—ronin, freelance martial artists, and sellswords. Those who frequented the Martial Arts City were predominantly from this rough-and-tumble background. They made their living by accepting various requests, mostly earning their coin through the edge of their swords. Some acted as fixers, while others were hired for tracking or subjugating bandits. The Three-Absolute Tracking Tiger, with whom Jin Cheon-hee had a connection in the past, was a prime example of such a warrior.
Naturally, agencies arranging jobs for these drifters had emerged to fill the void, boasting a history as long as the profession itself. However, these were not the organized mercenary guilds found in fantasy novels; in the chaotic world of Wuxia, agencies were often disorderly and rarely moved in a unified manner.
Hangzhou was no exception. In fact, given the city’s size, its agency was on a scale of its own.
The Dusk Breeze Abode.
“They say it’s the most famous manpower office for wanderers in Hangzhou,” Cheon Woo explained as they walked. “Originally, they handled everything as general brokers, but I heard they’ve shifted to dealing exclusively with martial manpower.”
“How do you know the details so well, Cheon Woo?”
“Hahaha, I took a job from them once while traveling the Murim.”
It made sense. It wasn’t just the destitute wanderers who frequented these places; martial artists traveling for training—like Cheon Woo—often stopped by agencies to earn travel expenses. After all, the Wudang Fist Emperor wasn’t the type to hand out allowances for a comfortable journey.
Cheon Woo continued, his tone light. “Originally, there were a few brokerage firms competing for the market. But as the Dusk Breeze Abode rose to prominence, the others… closed down.”
“‘Closed down,’ as in they sent all their competitors to the Yellow Springs? Sounds like a formidable place.”
“Indeed. The owner of the Dusk Breeze Abode is a martial artist of high renown in Hangzhou, holding the title ‘Dusk Breeze Great Axe.’”
“A Great Axe? That’s a unique title.”
“She looks like a woman in her mid-to-late thirties, though her actual age is likely older. As a master who has reached the Transformation Realm, she is also known by another title in the Jianghu: the Wandering Vagrants King.”
“The King of Wandering Vagrants. Quite the moniker.”
“Yes. I’ve heard her prowess isn’t quite enough to be counted among the Ten Greatest Masters under the Heavens, but she is undeniably strong. Her spirit alone is considerable.”
To maintain a title like King among a population of unruly, violent drifters, one would need martial prowess worthy of their fear and respect. Jin Cheon-hee nodded in understanding.
“There are quite a few wanderers who follow her loyally,” Cheon Woo added. “You could say she has built her own independent power base within Hangzhou.”
“A formidable person indeed.”
Jin Cheon-hee rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
***
Upon arriving at the Dusk Breeze Abode, they were met with a three-story pavilion fronted by a massive courtyard.
While the building itself was impressive, the scene inside the main gate was chaotic—a bustling manpower market in full swing. It resembled a street bazaar, with stalls and tents spread out and criers shouting over the din to attract recruits.
“Recruiting martial artists to fight Wokou raids! Emergency enlistment!”
“The Putuo Merchant Guild is hiring temporary escorts! Only experienced martial artists with clear identities need apply!”
“Is there anyone skilled in tracking? We need to find a missing person! Only first-rate wanderers with a reputation for tracking will be considered!”
Behind the stalls stood large boards, resembling blackboards, plastered with layers of paper requests. Wanderers milled about, listening to the shouts and scanning the notices for work that wouldn’t get them killed immediately.
“Do you pay even if we don’t encounter Wokou?” one warrior asked a recruiter.
“Only the base pay is given. Will you do it?”
“Good enough.”
Nearby, a group of martial artists discussed their options in hushed tones.
“The Putuo Merchant Guild pays a lot, but the job is difficult. I’m worried.”
“It likely involves maritime transport. We’re bound to run into water bandits.”
“Check if the Putuo Sect swordsmen are accompanying the shipment. If they are, it’s a safer bet.”
Here, no one took responsibility for another’s life. A wanderer had to assess the danger of a job personally and judge if the reward was worth the blood. Most who took jobs here were second or third-rate artists, men and women who could disappear like morning dew on a blind blade at any moment.
“By the way, why are we here, Brother?” Cheon Woo asked.
“Hahaha, took you long enough to ask. I intend to recruit temporary protection personnel before the reinforcements from headquarters arrive.”
“True, that is certainly important.”
“Considering future conflicts, it’s essential. We can only proceed with our plans if the main base is secure.”
Although the White Qilin Unit was stationed at the Hangzhou Branch’s 1st Store, their numbers were barely enough to guard that location alone. While the 2nd store was under construction, they needed hired muscle. Furthermore, if they intended to stir up trouble in Hangzhou, the more swords they had, the better.
Following Cheon Woo’s lead, they cut through the market-like yard and approached the main building. Seemingly familiar with the layout, Cheon Woo greeted the gatekeeper.
“Physician Jin Cheon-hee, the Young Pavilion Master of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion, has arrived. Please guide us to the owner of the agency.”
The gatekeeper blinked, slightly surprised.
“Ah, aren’t you Taoist Cheon Woo? And if it is the Young Pavilion Master of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion, then that makes him the First… Mad… Ah, no! The White-Robed Martial Dragon! Yes, I will guide you immediately!”
Jin Cheon-hee’s brow twitched. “Huh? What is ‘White-Robed Martial Dragon’ now? Why do my titles change so frequently?”
The gatekeeper scratched his head awkwardly. “I do not know the details well myself. Just that… it has been a few years since you were active in the Murim, has it not? ‘Divine Dragon’ is a title usually reserved for rookies. So, people have started calling you ‘Martial Dragon.’ Is that… rude?”
“No. Hmm… It’s certainly better than ‘First Madman.’”
At Jin Cheon-hee’s candid remark, the gatekeeper’s face turned bright red; he had, after all, almost let the old nickname slip.
Creak.
The gatekeeper opened the heavy door, and Jin Cheon-hee stepped inside.
“Martial Dragon. Not bad,” Cheon Woo mused. “Considering Brother’s current martial prowess, it’s a fitting title.”
Right. Better than First Madman. Anything is better than First Madman.
They ventured deeper into the building until a handsome man with a sturdy physique emerged to greet them.
“I greet the White-Robed Martial Dragon. I am Muk Dal, in charge of chores at this Dusk Breeze Abode.”
“Nice to meet you, Young Hero Muk Dal.”
Both Jin Cheon-hee and Cheon Woo returned the courtesy, though Jin Cheon-hee eyed the man curiously. This ‘Muk Dal’ possessed a considerable spirit, appearing to be at least a Peak Master.
Such a person is in charge of chores?
Whether he was humbling himself or truly worked as a servant, he was undeniably a formidable expert.
Muk Dal smiled cheerfully. “If it were any other business, you would have been attended to outside; if the Great Hero White-Robed Martial Dragon has come personally, you must be here to meet the Director, correct?”
Quick-witted, too.
“Yes, that is correct. I wish to see the person known as the Wandering Vagrants King.”
“Understood. Please follow me.”
As he turned to lead them, Jin Cheon-hee felt a strange sense of déjà vu. The man’s gait, his demeanor—it was familiar, though he couldn’t pinpoint where he had sensed it before. He decided not to pry and followed silently.
They climbed three flights of stairs. Finally, Muk Dal stopped before a door and shouted.
“Director! A guest has arrived!”
“Ah, fuck! A guest? At this ungodly hour? Come in!”
A husky yet strangely pleasant voice boomed from within.
“It seems she is slightly upset,” Jin Cheon-hee noted.
“They say beauties require their beauty sleep,” Muk Dal replied with a practiced ease. “Please do not mind it.”
Clack.
When the door opened, they were greeted by a woman lying on a massive bed, chugging directly from a bottle. She hadn’t bothered to tidy her appearance; her clothes were roughly disheveled, revealing glimpses of a body that was less flesh and more hardened steel.
It was muscle trained to the absolute limit through external martial arts.
“I was trying to drink hangover soup leisurely,” she grumbled, lowering the bottle.
She was nearly eight cheok tall—a towering figure composed of thick, powerful muscle. Her eyes were large and carried a fierce, imposing impression.
“This is the Wandering Vagrants King, Mok Dam-hwa,” Cheon Woo whispered. “The Number One Beauty of Hangzhou.”
“‘Number One Beauty of Hangzhou,’ my ass. FREEZE TO DEATH! Ptooey!” She spat on the floor.
Beauty, Jin Cheon-hee reflected, is subjective to every era and region. Just as the Venus of Willendorf differs from the Venus de Milo, beauty reflects the values of the time. A beauty in the Murim is often different from the slender, delicate ideal of modern fashion models. Here, beauty often meant lethality—an aesthetic closer to a sharp weapon.
If his Master was compared to the elegance of a Great Sword, then Mok Dam-hwa, the Number One Beauty of Hangzhou, possessed the overwhelming beauty of a Blue Dragon Crescent Blade.
Thud!
She leveraged her body up solely with the power of her latissimus dorsi. White skin contrasted with glaring eyes; she possessed the raw muscle power of an Amazoness. Even sitting up, her massive physique dominated the room.
Indeed, the Number One Beauty of Hangzhou. The radiating spirit is extraordinary.
She was a beauty who overwhelmed simply by existing. Jin Cheon-hee swallowed nervously, feeling the weight of her majestic fighting spirit.
Muk Dal addressed her respectfully. “Director. The Young Pavilion Master of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion has come.”
“One Light?”
In that moment, one side of her loose robe slid down—Slither—along her shoulder. As the thick, sculpted trapezius and deltoid muscles were revealed, Muk Dal sighed deeply.
“Director. Please… A guest is here. Wear some clothes properly.”
“Ah. You dress me. Annoying.”
“I apologize. Young Pavilion Master, please wait a moment while we prepare…”
Muk Dal sighed again and closed the inner room door. From inside came the sounds of fabric rustling—Swish, rustle.
Hmm, the Wandering Vagrants King is exactly as the rumors say. She is on the easygoing side. Her innate skeletal structure was extraordinary enough to be counted as a regional beauty, and her nature is magnanimous. Despite her rough exterior, I heard she commands great loyalty. She has aspects similar to Wangya Ju. That person also has considerable martial bones and loves alcohol; if categorized, they are cut from the same cloth.
True enough. Still, in a Confucian society where the distinction between men and women was strict, he worried slightly about her shamelessness in revealing her skin without a care in the world.
Well, since there are no martial robes that fit Cheon Woo properly, his chest is often visible, too.
Surely the Wandering Vagrants King wasn’t unable to tailor clothes due to a lack of funds; it was simply a choice. Jin Cheon-hee waited with a slightly flushed face until the rustling stopped.
Eventually, the door slid open again—Rattle.
There sat the Wandering Vagrants King, now dressed in fresh clothes with her attire tidied, though the alcohol bottle remained ominously on the table. Beside her stood a weary-looking Muk Dal.
“Hahaha, nice to meet you. One Light. Ah, since I am older, I can speak casually, right? This body is also the Director of this agency, so I don’t lag behind the White Qilin Medical Pavilion Young Pavilion Master in status.”
When Mok Dam-hwa smiled, her large eyes narrowed into crescents, revealing long, feminine eyelashes. To be the ‘Number One Beauty’ of a region required not just innate bone structure, but neat features and a captivating aura. She carried a different atmosphere from Zhuge Rin, the Number One Beauty under the Heavens, but she was undeniably striking in her own right.
“You may do as you please, Director. I am Jin Cheon-hee, Young Pavilion Master of the White Qilin Medical Pavilion.”
“Come in. Alco—”
She began to offer him a drink, but Muk Dal shot her a sharp warning glare. Eventually, the Wandering Vagrants King sighed, defeated.
“…Serve a cup of tea, at least.”
Fearing his boss might change her mind and reach for the bottle, Muk Dal spoke quickly.
“I will serve it immediately. High-quality Hangzhou Beauty Tea has arrived; I will bring it right away.”
“Fuck.”
The Wandering Vagrants King swore under her breath.