A city that never sleeps.

That was my first impression of Hunyuan. Though the night was dark, the streets, lined with countless pavilions, were bright with lanterns, and the sound of people laughing and talking was endless.

This is better than I expected.

It wasn’t quite like a modern city street at night, but it was a well-decorated downtown area in its own right. How should I put it? It had a unique charm inherent to its culture.

Oh, that’s pretty cool.

While I was looking out the window with interest, Jin Mu-gyeong’s reaction was lukewarm.

“It’s noisy. I’d much rather camp outdoors than deal with this.”

“Hey, we’re just passing through anyway, what’s the big deal?”

Jin Mu-gyeong’s eyebrow twitched at Hyeok Mujin’s affable reply.

“You whelp. If you had driven this carriage properly, we would have passed through here long ago.”

“If the Second Young Master hadn’t chased off the driver before that…”

“What?”

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

Wincing under the sharp gaze, Hyeok Mujin began to ramble on with excuses.

“Still, we are traveling as representatives of the main family. Shouldn’t we eat well and stay in a nice place? And let the horses rest, too.”

“Food is merely to satisfy hunger, nothing more. And which of us ordered you to do so?”

“The Lesser Family Head, sir.”

“…My elder brother did?”

“Yes. He specifically instructed that since we are traveling without an escort, we should at least secure good food and lodging.”

I wish that guy was my brother.

Jin Mu-gyeong had a rotten personality and would rather die than listen to others, but he was powerless against his one and only older brother. After a moment of hesitation, he sighed.

“Fine, just get us there quickly.”

“Yes, sir.”

Finally scoring a win, Hyeok Mujin’s lips twitched into a smirk as he started to drive the carriage.

***

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

Phoenix Inn[1]. The elegantly written characters on the sign were impressive.

“This place looks incredibly expensive.”

“Of course it has to be expensive, it’s where the young masters of the great Taiyuan Jin Family will be staying. The Lesser Family Head himself gave strict orders—only the absolute best!”

He’s really enjoying himself, spending someone else’s money.

Shaking my head, I stepped out of the carriage. An inn worker who looked to be about middle-school age scurried over and bowed deeply.

“Welcome!”

He had quite the service spirit for his young age. Hyeok Mujin stepped forward and asked in a weighty voice.

“Are there any rooms available?”

“Of course, sir. What kind of room are you looking for?”

“Give us the largest one.”

“Ah, are you referring to the annex, sir?”

The inn worker glanced at our party. Seeing that all three of us were in martial attire, his next words were cautious.

“I apologize, but for the annex, you must pay half the fee upfront.”

“Hah, what a shrewd little devil.”

Hyeok Mujin, putting on a stern face, pulled out a heavy money pouch from his robes. It seemed to be the expense money he had received from Jin Wi-gyeong.

“Alright, how much is it?”

“It is fifty nyang for one night’s stay.”

Fifty nyang? How much is that?

I had never used money here and didn’t know the currency system, so I just left it to Hyeok Mujin.

Well, he’ll handle it.

I glanced sideways and saw that Jin Mu-gyeong seemed to be thinking the same thing. Then again, a rich young master who was obsessed with nothing but martial arts—his background hardly matched someone with a sense of finances.

However, the reaction of Hyeok Mujin, a member of the working class, was different.

“What? How much?”

“Fifty nyang.”

“…Iron coins?”

“Excuse me?”

The inn worker looked Hyeok Mujin up and down and smirked.

“Would you like to change rooms?”

…It was unmistakable mockery. Hyeok Mujin’s lips trembled for a moment before he burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hahaha! You’re a young one, but you have quite a knack for business. Change rooms? What nonsense. Hurry and guide us to the annex.”

“You’ll have to give me twenty-five nyang before that.”

“You little—!”

“Aack!”

The inn worker flinched at Hyeok Mujin’s outburst.

The kid might get pushed around by us, but he was still a first-rate martial artist and a candidate for the next Head of the Gate-Guarding Pavilion of the Taiyuan Jin Family. A commoner who knew nothing of martial arts, and a mere teenager at that, was bound to be intimidated.

“I-I’ll guide you right away!”

We followed the tense inn worker to the annex. On the way, we saw a garden that, with some exaggeration, was the size of a soccer field, and a pond where koi fish swam. The annex itself was divided into three large rooms, decorated with what were clearly expensive items.

“Wow, this room is nice.”

Even Jin Mu-gyeong nodded in approval.

“Not bad. A room of this size will be no problem for training.”

Is martial arts the only thing on that guy’s mind?

While I was wandering around and looking at the annex, Hyeok Mujin, who had paid the lodging fee, returned.

“You two, are you not eating?”

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

After his firm reply, Jin Mu-gyeong left the annex and disappeared into the garden.

“Squad Leader?”

“Do I look like a crazy person like him? I’m starving. Let’s go quick and order one of everything.”

Was it my imagination, or did his face darken for a moment?

***

The Phoenix Inn was a landmark of Shanxi Province.

There were three main reasons for this. The first was its size, capable of accommodating hundreds of people; the second was its cuisine, prepared by a former imperial chef; and the third and final reason was the beauty of its female owner.

Because of this, the Phoenix Inn never had a shortage of customers, despite its high prices. Of course, for Hyeok Mujin, who was born into a family of tenant farmers, it was a place he could never even dream of visiting.

If not for an occasion like this, when would a guy like me ever get to come here?

Just half an hour ago, Hyeok Mujin’s mood had been at its peak. A nice room, delicious food, and even the beautiful owner, whom one could only see on a lucky day. To be able to enjoy all of this with someone else’s money!

Is this a dream, or is this real?

And then, after hearing the one-night lodging fee for the annex, he thought again.

Is this a dream, or is this real?

Same words, different feeling.

He wished it had been a dream, but by the time he came to his senses, it was already too late. He had been taken in by the inn worker’s smirk and even paid the fee upfront. It was all over.

The expense money I received was exactly fifty nyang in total.

Fifty silver nyang. Considering that a family of four’s living expenses for a year were just over ten silver nyang, it was an enormous sum of money. The problem was that the prices at the Phoenix Inn were on a completely different level.

I paid twenty-five nyang upfront, so I have exactly half left.

And even that would be gone by morning. Facing the prospect of spending his entire expense budget from Jin Wi-gyeong on a single night’s stay, Hyeok Mujin’s back grew damp with sweat.

If only that damned inn worker hadn’t smirked…

Regret always comes too late.

Hyeok Mujin quickly began to work the abacus in his head.

Okay, the expense money is all gone. But I brought some emergency funds just in case, so maybe I can manage.

Five silver nyang. It was his entire life savings. He had brought it to prepare for an emergency, but he never thought he would actually have to use it.

If I’m not too extravagant, I can somehow last until we return.

However, there was one thing Hyeok Mujin had failed to consider.

Jin Tae-kyung’s appetite.

Slurp. Gulp. Munch, munch.

“Wow, this really hits the spot.”

Sweet and Sour Chicken, Fish-Flavored Shredded Pork, Steamed Pork with Preserved Vegetables, Scallion Tofu Salad, Kung Pao Chicken… As a dozen more dishes were brought to the table one after another, Jin Tae-kyung’s hands moved like lightning.

“Wow, this is really delicious. The juices are amazing.”

“Not eating? Then I’ll eat the rest.”

“Whoa, the soup is incredible.”

“…Please, eat a lot.”

A single tear trickled down Hyeok Mujin’s cheek.

What’s come out so far is already five silver nyang.

His last hope was shattered. Seeing how things were going, he looked ready to devour twenty more dishes. Hyeok Mujin wanted to bash the pig-like man’s head with a plate, but he held it in. He didn’t want to lose his life on top of his life savings.

Jade Emperor, Primordial Heaven-Honored One. Please, stop that man.

It was then, as he was cursing the heavens, that it happened.

Crash!

***

The hardest part of living in Murim was, first, survival, and second, the food. For some reason, every dish was spicy, salty, and oily, making me crave soup at every meal. In that sense, the dish that had just arrived at the table held a special meaning.

Shredded Chicken and Corn Soup[2]. A type of corn soup with softly beaten eggs.

I leaned down slightly and smelled it. The distinct, savory aroma of corn wafted to my nose.

Yes, this is it.

A smile naturally formed on my face. My stomach was starting to feel greasy anyway. If I could soothe my stomach with the Shredded Chicken and Corn Soup, I could probably empty another ten plates.

Alright, now then…

It was the moment I held the warm ceramic bowl with pleasant anticipation.

Crash! Th-th-thump!

“…Huh?”

It happened in an instant. A wine bottle that had shattered in the center of the table broke into hundreds of ceramic pieces, scattering in all directions. On top of that, the little bit of wine left in the bottle…

Drip, drip, drip.

I was at a loss for words, having been caught in the unexpected downpour.

This can’t be happening.

The Shredded Chicken and Corn Soup I had been so looking forward to. The savory, smooth soup that was supposed to soothe my stomach was no longer there. What was now in the ceramic bowl was nothing more than food waste mixed with alcohol and porcelain shards.

Hyeok Mujin, sitting across from me, his mouth agape.

“Oh, Jade Emperor. Primordial Heaven-Honored One.”

I ignored his nonsense and slowly turned my head in the direction the wine bottle had come from.

I saw five bastards, smirking as they looked this way.

“Oh, my bad, brother.”

“It’s not my fault my hand slipped. I’ll just order you another one.”

“Hey, don’t say that. Didn’t you see how much that guy was eating just now?”

I watched them quietly as they snickered amongst themselves, then gestured with my hand.

The one who had apologized to me first. He was the culprit who had ruined my Shredded Chicken and Corn Soup.

“What, you want me to come over?”

The man smirked and got up from his seat, striding over.

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

Okay, let’s handle this rationally. I calmly began to speak.

“The ancient sages said not to even bother a dog when it’s eating. Apologize politely and order the food again. Starting with the Shredded Chicken and Corn Soup.”

“Well now, listen to the little whelp’s lisp.”

“The apology?”

“Hey kid, stick out your tongue. I’ll pull it out for you.”

The man grinned, revealing blackened, rotten teeth. The terrible bad breath made my appetite vanish completely. It seemed I would have to eat the Shredded Chicken and Corn Soup later.

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

As I spoke, I planted my fist in the man’s face.

Crack!

***

There were three reasons why the Phoenix Inn was famous.

However, the reason people, especially men, frequented it so often was because of the third reason.

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

And today was that day.

“It’s noisy.”

The owner’s clear but languid voice was not a mutter to herself. The proof was that the presence outside her door had vanished. A moment later, a quiet voice came from beyond the door.

“A fight has broken out between martial artists.”

Tsk, tsk. Clicking her tongue softly, the owner spoke, “Did anyone die?”

“One man has subdued all six of the others.”

“Who is he, and where is he from?”

“He is the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi.”

The owner smiled silently.

“Now that is a welcome name. I suppose I should go see his face after so long.”

She, who had been reclining, raised herself. The moonlight filtering through the window illuminated a thin, long smoking pipe.