Call Me Woo Rae-mae
With the help of Jang-hong, Bi Ryu-yeon and his companions successfully completed their course registration without any further issues and decided to return to their lodgings.
Bi Ryu-yeon had no intention of getting involved in the fierce battle over incomprehensible matters (such as Blazing Blade’s course registration) that those around him were engaging in. Perhaps if it were Junho or Hyo-ryong, they might have been tempted to dive into the fray, even at the risk of suffocation, but Bi Ryu-yeon absolutely refused. Could one even imagine a master striving to learn from his disciple?
As the four of them were heading back to their quarters, they suddenly detected subtle vibrations in the air and looked up at the sky. It felt as if a sharp blade had sliced through the dense atmosphere at an incredible speed. Accompanied by a piercing cry that rang in their ears.
Within their field of vision, three falcons descended from the heavens at a terrifying velocity. These birds, undoubtedly trained by human hands rather than being wild, were all flying toward a building located on the other side of a wall. However, due to the height of the wall, they could only guess the approximate location of the structure without discerning its exact position. In fact, more than the building’s whereabouts, they were curious about the significance of the falcons that had just landed.
“What are those?” Bi Ryu-yeon asked.
“What, you don’t know?” Hyo-ryong looked at Bi Ryu-yeon with surprise in his eyes. Although he should have been used to it by now, he was still occasionally astonished by Bi Ryu-yeon’s staggering ignorance.
“Nope.”
“Those are the famous messenger hawks of the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. They’re specially trained birds used to deliver letters, news, or information.”
“Really? I’ve never heard of that before.”
Despite being exposed to new information every day, Bi Ryu-yeon persistently failed to escape his ignorance.
“Aren’t carrier pigeons typically used for delivering messages?” Yoon Junho inquired.
Jang-hong shot him a reproachful glance, as if to say, “You’re not much better, wise up.”
“These days, the Gangho is transitioning from carrier pigeons to messenger hawks. Everyone prefers messenger hawks as they pose far less risk and offer much higher reliability compared to fragile pigeons. Nowadays, it’s rare to find a renowned martial artist who doesn’t possess a messenger hawk,” Jang-hong explained.
“So it’s a sort of trend,” Yoon Junho remarked. His statement wasn’t entirely inaccurate.
“It has now surpassed being a trend and become almost ubiquitous.”
Carrier pigeons were now a relic of the past. Who would dare to send news using pigeons these days, risking the scorn and ridicule of their peers? Any self-respecting individual who valued their reputation and face would never attempt such a feat.
“Moreover, when the hawks aren’t delivering messages, they can be used for falconry, which is an added bonus. Falconry is considered a very sophisticated hobby in the Gangho.”
Falconry, as the name suggests, is a luxurious hunting method that utilizes hawks. Regardless of what they are used for, extravagant hobbies tend to command high prices. The mere fact that hawks are involved is enough to indicate that falconry is not an activity aimed at sustaining a livelihood. The cost of a single hawk used for hunting could easily feed a family of five commoners for three months.
“I want one of those. How do I get one?” Bi Ryu-yeon asked, sounding like a child begging for a new toy. His curiosity had been piqued once again.
“You buy one,” Jang-hong replied.
“Thanks a lot. How helpful of you to put it so simply.”
“I always enjoy getting straight to the point.”
Jang-hong smiled and continued.
“But don’t say it like that. You’re scaring me, making me think you might do something to me.”
“Haha! That sounds like a threat to our precious friendship,” Bi Ryu-yeon said with a laugh.
Jang-hong made a concerted effort to ignore Bi Ryu-yeon’s remark.
“Friendship that can be threatened? That assumes such a friendship existed in the first place.”
“Discovering that a friendship existed between you and me that could be threatened is truly a remarkable revelation.”
“Now that you’re aware of it, consider yourself fortunate. Otherwise, you might have gone your whole life without ever knowing.”
Jang-hong laughed and began explaining more about messenger hawks.
“There are an increasing number of places in the Gangho that specialize in training and selling messenger hawks. Thanks to that, the prices have dropped significantly. You could say they’ve become more accessible to the masses. The most famous among these is the Thousand Hawk Hall. Their primary source of income comes from the sales and operation of messenger hawks. These days, they’re more renowned for that business than for their martial arts.”
The Thousand Hawk Hall was a martial arts sect that considered the Thousand Hawk Eight Claws technique as their signature skill. Up until a decade ago, they were merely a small, insignificant faction, but as the messenger hawk craze swept through the Gangho, they began to rise rapidly. Nowadays, they have established a massive force rivaling that of major sects. Alongside their messenger hawk sales, they have transformed into an information trading organization by leveraging the swift information exchange capabilities provided by the hawks, achieving great success. It was a sect with a unique history.
“Operation?” Bi Ryu-yeon asked.
“Yes. Even messenger hawks can’t traverse the entire Central Plains to deliver news. How could they possibly cover such vast distances? It would be a challenging task, even for winged creatures. It would take a long time. So, they have set up places for the hawks to rest at various locations. The Thousand Hawk Hall has established and operates the 24 largest hubs among them. If there’s a need to send a message to a specific region, they utilize those facilities.”
“The training level of a messenger hawk is indicated by the number of rings on its ankle. The more rings it has, the more extensive training it has undergone, making it a top-quality bird.”
“The hawks earlier had seven rings, so they’re high-grade?”
Even from a distance, Bi Ryu-yeon seemed to have clearly seen the number of rings on the hawks’ ankles.
“Definitely. Those seven rings signify that they have been trained in seven flight routes. Twelve is the maximum. Messenger hawks select their flight path based on specific signals corresponding to the route markings. The signals designate the direction to a particular location.”
“To avoid circuitous routes?”
“Exactly. There’s no need to take a roundabout path when a direct route is available. That would be a waste of time.”
“I agree with you on that waste.”
“Hmm, I really want one…”
Bi Ryu-yeon whined like a pestering child. Hearing the explanation only intensified his desire to possess one.
“If you really want one, just buy it.”
“Really? How?”
“There’s probably a branch or distribution point of the Thousand Hawk Hall within the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy. Conveniently located, I must say. This place is the heart of the Baekdo martial arts world, so any renowned sect has a liaison office or hub here. The Thousand Hawk Hall’s messenger hawks, in particular, are essential for life in the Gangho, so they not only train and educate the hawks but also sell them. It’s their biggest business. And I might add, the Thousand Hawk Hall’s messenger hawks are renowned for their intelligence.”
It was truly an enticing story. Although spending money was a painful affair for Bi Ryu-yeon, he was determined to have one, so he urged Jang-hong to visit the Thousand Hawk Hall’s branch. The branch was located in a large building next to the Hawk Pavilion. The Hawk Pavilion, which managed the messenger hawks of the students and the institute, was situated right beside it.
The Hawk Pavilion was a type of dormitory exclusively for messenger hawks. What impressed Bi Ryu-yeon the most about this place was the fact that they cared for the students’ hawks free of charge. Taking care of a hawk personally was a time-consuming and troublesome task. The utility and indispensability of a place that took on this burden for them went without saying.
The branch, despite its name, was a humble building—not small by any means, but equivalent to a large store at best. Upon entering, they found numerous cages housing a variety of messenger hawks. A closer inspection revealed that each hawk had slightly different features and appearances. It was the first time Bi Ryu-yeon had seen such a diverse array of hawks in terms of color and breed.
As Bi Ryu-yeon meticulously surveyed the interior of the branch, one particular messenger hawk caught his eye. It was a unique specimen with feathers that gleamed with a bluish hue. It sat proudly with its blade-like eyes shining, exuding the aura of a king of the skies. Although confined within a narrow cage, its regal bearing remained undiminished. The twelve thin golden rings adorning its ankles indicated that it was undoubtedly a top-quality hawk.
“Ah, dear customer. That one is too fierce. No one has been able to tame it. It’s too proud and aloof, and everyone who has tried to take it has failed. It’s a species from the Eastern country of Goryeo, called the Azure Hawk of the East Sea. It’s extremely ferocious. And it refuses to obey anyone it doesn’t acknowledge as its master,” the shopkeeper warned, noticing Bi Ryu-yeon’s interest in the raptor that had sent more than 30 people away with 4-5 talon wounds.
Bi Ryu-yeon disregarded the shopkeeper’s warning and persisted in his pursuit. The shopkeeper shook his head and expressed a skeptical look. Everyone had started off well but met a miserable end. They had all confidently taken on the challenge, only to give up with tattered clothes, bleeding wounds, and hanging heads. The shopkeeper believed this time would be no different.
“Cu… customer!”
When the shopkeeper momentarily shifted his gaze elsewhere and looked back at Bi Ryu-yeon, his eyes widened to the size of saucers.
“What? It seems quite docile to me.”
Somehow, the blue-feathered Azure Hawk of the East Sea was perched elegantly on Bi Ryu-yeon’s forearm. What was even more surprising was that he had opened the cage’s door and taken out the hawk without the owner’s permission. What was he thinking, recklessly opening the cage door? What if that fierce hawk had escaped? No sensible person would have done such a thing.
Once the shopkeeper’s initial shock at the customer’s unauthorized cage opening subsided to a certain extent, he thought he should sternly protest. However, he noticed a peculiar fact. Remarkably, despite the absence of a forearm guard, the hawk’s talons did not pierce through Bi Ryu-yeon’s arm. Of course, it wasn’t that the Azure Hawk of the East Sea had suddenly developed a sense of compassion and reduced the strength of its grip. He could swear on the honor of the Goryeo Azure Hawks.
The shopkeeper’s eyes were filled with admiration as he witnessed Bi Ryu-yeon handling the blue-feathered Azure Hawk of the East Sea, which had been untameable and had only brought bitter failures to others, as if it were a docile chick.
“That’s truly remarkable. Such a ferocious creature… It seems to have found its master, dear customer.”
“How much is it?” Bi Ryu-yeon asked.
“It’s originally a genuine, expensive breed, but since it had been wandering without finding an owner, I’ll give you a special discount in celebration of it finding its master.”
The salesperson had a rather amiable personality. The mention of a discounted price further pleased Bi Ryu-yeon.
“Thank you.”
However, the price quoted next was more than sufficient to extinguish his purchasing desire.
“I’ll give it to you for exactly 15 silver taels.”
Upon hearing the amount, Bi Ryu-yeon’s body stiffened like a rock.
“I’m not particularly fond of financial jokes,” Bi Ryu-yeon said, forcing a smile. It required tremendous willpower for him to maintain a smiling expression with his facial muscles contorted by the mention of 15 silver taels. However, disregarding Bi Ryu-yeon’s sentiment, the middle-aged man spoke.
“A joke, you say? We take pride in always conducting fair transactions. The credibility of our Thousand Hawk Hall is unrivaled in this field.”
Of course, it wasn’t something to be taken at face value.
“I trust you’re not expecting me to believe that. Unless you take me for a fool,” Bi Ryu-yeon retorted.
“It’s the truth, dear customer. This hawk is originally worth at least 30 silver taels, but I’m giving it to you at half price as a special offer.”
Naturally, like any merchant, the claim of 30 silver taels was a lie. Merchants always had a duty to make the customer feel as though they had gained an advantage. Whether that gain was financial or psychological, or even an illusion… If an illusion alone could convince the other party of their benefit, he would possess the qualities of a top-notch businessman.
“10 silver taels. That’s my limit,” Bi Ryu-yeon stated firmly. Even 10 silver taels was a significant expenditure for him, akin to accepting anemia-inducing blood loss.
“Absolutely not,” the shopkeeper rejected resolutely. In response, Bi Ryu-yeon’s piercing gaze locked directly onto the man’s eyes. However, although his current occupation was comparable to that of a merchant, the shopkeeper was still a martial artist. He couldn’t yield to this level of intimidation. Protecting the hall’s profits and maximizing earnings was the mission entrusted to him.
“Glaring at me won’t change anything,” the shopkeeper said, unfazed by Bi Ryu-yeon’s attempt at intimidation. As a martial artist, he couldn’t succumb to such pressure.
“There’s no deal without haggling. Bargaining is the customer’s privilege. And I have no intention of relinquishing that privilege, not even a smidgen,” Bi Ryu-yeon declared, his determination as solid as a diamond and as immovable as a mountain. Someone had to yield, but neither party seemed willing to be that someone.
Reducing the set price required time and passion. The discounted price and the increase in the price reduction rate were proportional to the invested time and persistent passion. And Bi Ryu-yeon was an exceptionally tenacious individual in this regard. The owner, unaware of this fact, was making a mistake.
Bi Ryu-yeon had no memory of ever purchasing an item without haggling. He possessed a keen sense of money, relentlessly honed by his master. Defeat was not an option, regardless of the opponent. Therefore, the shopkeeper was bound to lose in this reckless confrontation with Bi Ryu-yeon.
The tense standoff between the two, like a tightly drawn string, was now entering a prolonged battle. Both sides stood their ground, refusing to budge an inch from their positions. In such a situation, the outcome would be determined by the one with the weaker qi. Mental fortitude was the decisive factor. However, when it came to the abundance of qi, Bi Ryu-yeon was second to none. Moreover, his tenacity regarding money was unrivaled.
“14 taels!” the shopkeeper conceded, his mental strength weakening along with the price.
“11 taels!” Bi Ryu-yeon countered.
“13 taels!”
“11 taels and 25 coins!”
The haggling had now progressed from silver taels to coins. It was truly an impressive display of bargaining skills.
“Absolutely not,” the shopkeeper refused.
“11 taels and 50 coins!”
Bi Ryu-yeon gradually intensified the pressure, exuding a sharp aura that made his opponent shrink back. This method had always been highly effective. He had never experienced failure when employing this technique.
“11 taels and 75 coins!”
Finally, the shopkeeper relented and agreed to bargain at the coin level. The outcome was already virtually decided.
“11 taels, 50 coins, and 50 coppers!”
At this point, it was no different from daylight robbery.
“I concede. I’ll sell it for 11 taels, 50 coins, and 50 coppers,” the shopkeeper declared, unable to endure the mental exhaustion any longer. He had been thoroughly haggled down to 11 taels, 50 coins, and 50 coppers. Bi Ryu-yeon had managed to save a whopping 3 taels, 49 coins, and 50 coppers.
Only then did a victorious smile spread across Bi Ryu-yeon’s face. He was as elated as if he had won a war. Jang-hong, Hyo-ryong, and Junho, who had witnessed the confrontation between the two, were thoroughly sick of his bargaining behavior. Clinging to an already agreed-upon price was not a virtue that a skilled merchant should possess.
The shopkeeper, with a full smile on his face, said to Bi Ryu-yeon, “You should give him a name.”
“Oh, he doesn’t have a name yet?”
“This place isn’t heartless enough to take away the owner’s privilege of naming.”
The shopkeeper spoke with a serious expression. Originally, naming a pet should be considered one of the privileges of the owner.
“What should I name him?”
After thinking for a moment, Bi Ryu-yeon suddenly clapped his palms together and raised his head, as if a groundbreaking name had come to mind. “I think it would be good to name him Woo Rae-mae.” He thought the name suited the hawk’s noble bearing, reminiscent of the king of the skies, and its chillingly blue feathers. The name also had a nice ring to it.
“Woo Rae (Cosmic Thunder, 宇雷 )… It’s a good name.” The shopkeeper agreed with his opinion.
Having finished their business, Bi Ryu-yeon and his companions came out with a newly added member, a hawk. As they stepped out the door, the shopkeeper’s voice called out from behind them. As if trying not to lose potential customers, he didn’t forget to be kind until the very end.
“That’s it for the romantic business. Good luck.” The shopkeeper waved his hand, bidding them farewell.