“Let’s go together. To the Hengshan Sword Sect.”

“What?”

“It’s just as you heard, Young Master Jin. I have business at the Hengshan Sword Sect as well.”

“What kind of business?”

“I don’t think I can tell you that. I, too, tend to keep my business and personal affairs separate.”

A taste of my own medicine.

The very words I had just spoken came right back at me. Seeing my sheepish expression, Wol-hwa’s smile deepened.

“I’m just kidding. As it happens, I have something to collect from the Hengshan Sword Sect. Or, to be precise, something I was promised from the Taiyuan Jin Family.”

“What… Ah.”

A memory suddenly came to mind. The secret pact made between the Taiyuan Jin Family and the Hao Sect when the war with the Hengshan Sword Sect was in full swing.

‘In exchange for providing intelligence, they were promised ownership of the lands and other properties held by the Hengshan Sword Sect, wasn’t it?’

The Hao Sect—no, Wol-hwa—had kept her promise. It was thanks to her help that we were able to annihilate the vanguard of the Hengshan Sword Sect at the beginning of the war.

The Taiyuan Jin Family received further assistance from the Hao Sect after that and finally won the war, but the problem came afterward.

“As you know, Young Master Jin, our position has become a bit awkward. We won the war, but now we can’t touch the spoils.”

The law of the jungle. It is the rule of the Murim that the strong devour the weak.

But the appearance of the Grand Elder ruined everything. The moment it was revealed that the Taiyuan Jin Family and the Hengshan Sword Sect had both been played by his scheme, the justification for taking the spoils of war faded.

And that’s why they’re proceeding with a merger.

Now was the time to sheathe the sword and speak with the brush. Jin Wi-gyeong’s plan was to absorb them quietly and amicably, within a scope that wouldn’t incur the world’s condemnation.

And Wol-hwa wanted to receive her compensation before that happened.

“If the Hengshan Sword Sect accepts our proposal, you could demand your compensation then.”

“That’s a story for when the Taiyuan Jin Family is the conqueror of Shanxi, not its leader. If you try to take things rashly in the current situation, the other small and medium-sized sects will back out. What’s more…” For a moment, she looked at me with a meaningful gaze, then shook her head.

What on earth was that?

“What’s more, what?”

“It’s nothing. Well, anyway, I did receive a proposal from the Lesser Family Head.” Wol-hwa continued, puffing on her pipe. “He said he would grant me wealth corresponding to what was promised, or cede a territory managed by the Taiyuan Jin Family.”

That sounded like a decent offer, but thinking from the perspective of a leader of an organization, not an individual, it was different.

She must want to expand her sphere of influence.

Wol-hwa’s true nature was not that of a courtesan or an inn owner, but an information merchant. It was clear that she wanted to use this opportunity to extend the Hao Sect’s influence to the northern part of Shanxi Province, which had been relatively weak due to the blockade by the Hengshan Sword Sect.

And Jin Wi-gyeong, of course, would want the Taiyuan Jin Family to encompass the entire Shanxi Province.

The Taiyuan Jin Family had already wielded immense influence in the central and southern parts of Shanxi for a long time. Handing over a few prime territories wouldn’t diminish the influence they had built up until now.

This is just like a redevelopment zone.

The Hengshan Sword Sect, which had a firm grip on the north and blocked the influx of outside forces, was collapsing. With the greenbelt lifted and the area opened for redevelopment, the push-and-pull between Jin Wi-gyeong and Wol-hwa had begun.

They’re both no joke.

Yesterday’s ally had become today’s competitor. I was reminded once again today that what you see is not all there is to a person.

“So, I’m planning to accompany you to the Hengshan Sword Sect to see our cute new sect leader and also to press her about the debt… What do you say?”

I answered without a second thought.

“I refuse.”

“Wow, aren’t you being a little too firm? Cutting me off so sharply before even hearing the terms of the deal.”

“As the younger brother, I can’t go around throwing dirty water on my older brother’s path.”

Though we weren’t related by blood, a part of my heart had long since accepted his existence—and this world of Murim.

“Hmm.”

Wol-hwa, who had been gazing at me intently, put down her pipe with a tap.

“Let’s do that, then.”

“Ah, yes.”

I thought she would try to persuade me a few more times, but she gave up right away. Well, from my perspective, I was relieved that the conversation ended quickly.

“Then, if you’ll excuse us.”

I tapped Hyeok Mujin, who was still sitting with his mouth sealed, and got up from my seat. Just then, Wol-hwa gave a strange smile and said.

“Ah, could you pass on a message to Young Hero Jin? Tell him the old pine tree in the back garden is expensive, so please ask him to be a little more careful with his training.”

This was an inn run by the number one information merchant in Shanxi. It was as if my internal organs had been on display for her to read since I stepped foot in this place.

“I’ll do that.”

“Let me know if you need anything. It’s a request from my dear Young Master Jin, so I’ll have to get you whatever it is.”

I glanced at her as she winked, and as soon as I left the room, something I had forgotten came to mind.

“Mujin, why do you run your mouth so carelessly?”

Whack! Whack! Whack!

“Ack! Ack! Ack!”

One man hit, and one man was hit.

When we returned to the annex, we were greeted by the sight of several neatly felled old pine trees and Jin Mu-gyeong with a satisfied look on his face.

“That was a satisfying cut.”

Someday, I want to cut that bastard down.

***

The guest room became quiet. Wol-hwa, who had been smoking her pipe for a while, finally spoke long after Jin Tae-kyung had left.

“Did you look into what I ordered before?”

A Hao Sect subordinate who had been waiting outside the room answered in a low voice.

“What you confirmed a month ago is all there is. We are collecting additional information, but…”

“There’s nothing more to be found?”

“Yes, it’s unlikely.”

“Unlikely? So it’s not impossible? Keep digging. I’ll give you plenty of time, so don’t rush. You know we’ll be in a bad spot too if we poke the Taiyuan Jin Family right now, right?”

“Understood.”

Just as the subordinate was about to leave, Wol-hwa’s next words stopped him.

“A third-rate scoundrel became the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi in less than two months. What are your thoughts?”

“It’s possible. If the rumors are true.”

“Ah, that.”

Wol-hwa let out a smirk. It was a rumor that had begun to spread after Jin Tae-kyung defeated Jo Pil of the One-Strike-One-Kill. A rumor that everything Jin Tae-kyung had shown until now was a facade, and that he had actually been training in martial arts with the family’s full support since he was a child. The story had now spread so widely that there was no one in Shanxi who hadn’t heard it.

“Do you believe that?”

“It’s a ridiculous, unfounded rumor. However…”

“People believe it. Not because they are stupid, but because they have no choice but to believe. But we are different.”

Shanxi was already a frontier region that was given no regard in the Central Plains, but the Hao Sect had been ceaselessly gathering information. It went without saying that this applied to the direct line of the Taiyuan Jin Family, a powerful family in Shanxi. The only mistake they had made was failing to accurately grasp the identity of the Grand Elder, who had been active during the chaotic period of the war. However, their information on Jin Tae-kyung was close to perfect.

“Alcohol, women, gambling. He was lazy since childhood and was only interested in playing around. To the point where one would wonder if such a person ever existed in the history of the Taiyuan Jin Family.”

“Two years ago, when you took office as Branch Manager, your first order was also about that.”

“That’s right. Assess the overall situation in Shanxi. And conduct a focused investigation on Jin Tae-kyung.”

Talent is inherently passed down. The direct line of the Taiyuan Jin Family had been owners of outstanding martial talent for generations, and the current family head, who was considered an eccentric, and his two sons were no exceptions. Among them, Jin Tae-kyung’s existence stood out for being so different, which was why the Hao Sect had launched an investigation.

“The results were anticlimactic.”

“It turned out he was exactly as he appeared.”

Thanks to his family’s bloodline, his physical foundation and internal meridians were slightly superior, but there was nothing special about him otherwise.

“Did we miss something back then?”

“He was a man who slept at the pleasure house every other day. Isn’t martial arts something you can’t master even if you cut down on sleep to train?”

“I know, I know all too well.”

Wol-hwa herself had mastered martial arts to a fairly mature level, even among the first-rate. There was no way she wouldn’t know about that.

Frustrated, she continuously drew on her pipe before letting out a long breath.

“In the end, there’s only one answer.”

“Indeed.”

That Jin Tae-kyung had become a pinnacle of first-rate martial artist from a third-rate martial artist in just over two months. Wol-hwa was flabbergasted by her own conclusion, but there was nothing she could do.

“Cancel the order I gave earlier. Don’t ask any more about him, and don’t try to find out. Issue a gag order so that no one even brings him up.”

“Understood. I will make sure everyone is strictly warned.”

“Ah, and one more thing. I’m leaving early tomorrow, so make the preparations.”

“Who do you plan on taking with you?”

“Just me.”

“Branch Manager, that is—”

“It’s an order.”

“…Understood.”

After her subordinate withdrew, silence descended upon the room. Wol-hwa tapped out the burnt tobacco leaves and thought.

Jin Tae-kyung.

If everything he had done so far was true, then the northern interests she had to gain from the Hengshan Sword Sect were nothing.

Has there ever been anyone in all of history who grew this quickly?

Her gaze, fixed on the spot where Jin Tae-kyung had been sitting, deepened.

***

The next morning.

I sensed a problem had arisen after meeting the person in charge of the annex.

“Twenty-five nyang for lodging, five nyang for food, and fifty nyang for property damage. The total is eighty silver nyang.”

Hyeok Mujin, who had been gloating about looting the horse bandits’ pockets yesterday, his mouth fell wide open.

“Property damage? Fifty silver nyang?”

“When I went to the back garden, I found five old pine trees had fallen.”

It was the tree Wol-hwa had said was expensive.

Hyeok Mujin and I turned our heads at the same time. Jin Mu-gyeong, whose eyes met ours, flinched and then spoke.

“I got carried away with my enthusiasm while practicing my sword.”

“…No, you son of a bitch. Does getting carried away mean you can just cut down everything in sight? Huh?”

Hyeok Mujin couldn’t say anything more and just let out frustrated sighs. It was obvious that the amount we had to pay exceeded our budget. Still, if it was just a little over, maybe we could negotiate and find a compromise…

“Mujin, how much do you have right now?”

“Forty nyang.”

Compromise, my ass. Not even close.

“Do you happen to accept credit?”

The moment the gentle smile that had been on the annex manager’s lips vanished…

“Young Master Jin, what are you doing here?”

A beauty in a light, fluttering palace dress was approaching us. For us, at this moment, Wol-hwa’s appearance was nothing short of a lifeline. I felt bad about having firmly rejected her proposal last night, but this was no time to be picky.

“Well, you see…”

As I explained the situation, Wol-hwa’s eyes widened.

“Eighty nyang? That can’t be right.”

“Right? I told you something seemed wrong.”

“Give that here.”

She took the bamboo slip the manager was holding and began to read it. As her frown deepened, it was clear that the calculation was seriously messed up.

Of course.

Finally, after reading the entire slip, a cold voice flowed from between Wol-hwa’s lips.

“Do your job properly.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Do you have any idea who these people are, to pull a stunt like this…? Write down the correct price.”

Hyeok Mujin whispered in a small voice.

“What a relief.”

“Tell me about it. We almost had to wash dishes to get out of here.”

“What a pain this is, all because of the Second Young Master.”

“Don’t even mention that guy. I get cancer just hearing about him.”

“What’s cancer?”

“…It’s something bad.”

In the meantime, the manager, sweating profusely as he corrected the price, bowed deeply and apologized to us.

“I’m sorry. I was thoughtless and committed a discourtesy.”

Hyeok Mujin accepted the apology with an arrogant attitude.

“Don’t let it happen again. You should pick your targets before you play games. So, how much is it?”

“It is one hundred and five silver nyang and twenty-three iron coins.”

“……?”

“……?”

What is this? Is this a dream?

My head automatically turned toward Wol-hwa.

“What is he talking about?”

“He arbitrarily gave you a discount because you’re my acquaintance. How dare he, what does he take the sons of the great Taiyuan Jin Family for? Apologize again.”

“I’m sorry for not recognizing you, sirs!”

“Th… then…” I asked, my voice thick with emotion. “You do accept credit, right? Obviously.”

“Of course not. We haven’t, not once in two years.”

“How about setting a precedent on this occasion?”

“I don’t have any intention of doing so just yet. You’ll have to try for the next opportunity.” Wol-hwa added with a radiant smile. “Is there anything else you’d like to say?”

“…He… Hengshan.”

“I’m sorry?”

I shut my eyes tightly and continued, “Would you like to go to the Hengshan Sword Sect together?”

“Oh, I would love to.”

That detestable smile. At Wol-hwa’s gesture, the manager disappeared with the bamboo slip at the speed of light.

“I guess we won’t have to worry about travel expenses from now on.”

While there were those like Hyeok Mujin who accepted reality, there was also someone who voiced his strong opposition.

“Nonsense! How can we take a woman along while carrying out a family mission!”

“Then you can stay here and wash dishes before you join us.”

“Who here cut down the old pine trees? Hands up.”

Jin Mu-gyeong did not raise his hand. Wol-hwa lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and greeted him with a curtsy.

“I’ll be in your care, Young Hero Jin.”