“Courtesan? What are you talking about?”
Well, I guess this day has come.
From the request to apprehend Im Ha-yeon, her midnight escapades, to moving to the printing shop. Much time has already passed. It was about time they started arriving, whether from Wuhan or Umbrella.
I asked, with an expression clueless enough to confuse even the grumpiest martial artists.
“The name is Im Ha-yeon. She might go by another name. A beauty with pink hair and voluptuous curves, it’s obvious.”
“Im Ha-yeon?”
“Does Ha-yeon run away and become a courtesan?”
In times like this, it’s better to stay quiet. The staff, captivated by the perfect description, are stirring with suspicion.
With this, it won’t work to play dumb and say I don’t know them.
“Looks like this is the right place after all.”
“Brother. Where’d you get this info? It can’t be wrong! Let’s catch her and go back! Thwack!”
I wondered if this guy has ever read a book; one particularly rough-looking martial artist casually spat phlegm on the floor of the tea bookstore.
“Seems there’s a misunderstanding. The Im Ha-yeon I know is the daughter of a textile shop.”
I slightly frowned and said to the martial artist, trying to show that I thought there was some sort of misunderstanding.
“That’s not for you to decide. Where is Im Ha-yeon?”
If a person talks politely, they should be answered politely. But, you know, those wielding swords often lack basic manners.
Then, who am I to be judged by others? I am justice itself. I wanted to have a brawl, but since this store is my own, I decided to refrain.
“She was supposed to come to work today, but she didn’t.”
“She didn’t come to work?”
“Yes. She suddenly didn’t come, and it was quite troublesome.”
I said this with the tone of a boss who was flustered by an employee going radio silent.
“You there! Is that true?”
The martial artist stared at me for a while, unable to find any traces of a lie, before raising his voice and asking Ha So-so, who was beside him.
“Yes! That’s right!”
Looks like So-so figured out the situation and nodded her head, although she looked frightened. Good job, So-so! I’ll take you out for lunch later.
“I don’t know if the person the martial artist is looking for is the same as her. She seems a bit nervous these days, but I’m only guessing about her family circumstances.”
I added a little explanation, deliberately leaving a door open for her escape.
“Where does Im Ha-yeon live?”
“I believe she lives at an inn.”
Saying “I don’t know” is basic. Let’s deceive them with outdated information.
“We’ve been to that inn. Do you know any other places?”
Gathering the information they just spat out was quick work.
They knew she worked at the tea bookstore. They knew of the inn but not the printing shop.
Looks like the martial artists who left two weeks ago were slow. They’d probably gotten their info from where they requested it, and the Yichang branch manager is on our side. It’s safe to think they didn’t get any helpful info.
Then, it’s likely they heard about the tea bookstore and the Tang family too. I could push a bit harder now.
“I don’t know.”
I said firmly while glaring into the martial artist’s eyes.
Only a few staff members know she’s living at the printing shop. If I say I don’t know loud enough for the employees to hear, they’ll all piece together the situation.
The martial artist stepped closer menacingly, as if trying to intimidate me to get what he wanted.
I’ve seen plenty of faces far scarier than yours. You don’t scare me with that mug.
“Tsk. You there! Do you know where Im Ha-yeon lives?!”
When I didn’t react, the martial artists seemed to think it was futile, and they started asking other staff members.
“I don’t knooooow!”
“Hey! Do you know?”
“No! I don’t!”
“What kind of a thing is this?! Are you planning to cause trouble at the tea bookstore?”
Good to see all the employees are sharp. I shouted loudly, mixing anger and annoyance. I did it loud enough for regulars to hear, not just the martial artists who barged in.
“What’s this? Clearly, they’re from the Black Knife! Are they causing a fuss at a place where we’re negotiating?!”
“Are there really Black Knife pests at the tea bookstore?”
There are a lot of martial artists who regularly visit the tea bookstore lately. A clean community we’re all building together here. There are regulars who will step in.
“Step aside.”
As several martial artists who had been observing the situation began to rise, the one who looked like the leader among the three from the Black Knife raised a hand to stop his subordinates.
“If you cause any more trouble, we won’t treat you as guests.”
I threw out a confident threat to the martial artists.
“Hah! Look at this? A barbarian punk getting cocky!”
“Are you sure she didn’t come today and that you don’t know where she lives?”
“Brother!”
“Shut up.”
It seems the leader can differentiate between right and wrong.
“If you don’t believe me, take a look around and leave.”
The leader looked at me, glaring not at his surroundings but directly at me.
What will you do if I stare back?
“… If it’s a lie, you’ll regret it badly. Let’s go!”
Did they think they couldn’t gain any information? Eventually, the martial artists left the tea bookstore.
Phew.
“Manager.”
Once Ha So-so confirmed that the three martial artists had left, she called me with a worried expression.
“From today, let’s keep our employees quiet. And Im Ha-yeon won’t be coming to work at the tea bookstore from today.”
A bit slower than expected, but it finally arrived. Now it’s time to move to the next prepared plan.
“What if Ha-yeon suddenly decides to show up in the afternoon?”
Knowing Im Ha-yeon’s personality, she could easily show up for work in the afternoon. Ha So-so looked worried as she asked me.
I didn’t answer Ha So-so and instead cautiously approached the window, slowly pulling the curtains aside.
There they are.
The martial artists from Hao-wen were still waiting in front of the tea bookstore, hovering near the opposite building. Did they think Im Ha-yeon might appear?
Looks like they’re not giving up easily.
“It’s fine.”
“Yeah?”
Sending someone to the printing shop right now could be dangerous. But having Im Ha-yeon come to work at the tea bookstore would be troublesome as well.
I raised my hand high to clarify Ha So-so’s puzzled expression.
“Please.”
“Gugu gugu!”
As I lifted my hand, the magical creature swooped straight down.
I figured it’d be enough to ask the messenger pigeon, Gugu, for news.
————–
Not all martial artists are one in a hundred.
If you can’t confidently overpower your opponent, it’s easier to ambush or collaborate with others to overwhelm them.
‘I’m being followed.’
On the way home in the dark of night. I could hear the sound of footsteps matching mine behind.
After living as a treasure goblin who could steal without fuss nor objection, one becomes sensitive to being followed.
While it’s best to erase any presence or keep your footsteps quiet while tailing someone, it seems this black-haired guy isn’t willing to exert that little effort.
‘There are five who are surveilling the tea bookstore. It’s not a level I could handle alone.’
Aside from the three who visited in the morning, two more had joined in.
If I have mediocre skills, I could now handle about five of them. But Im Ha-yeon is a martial artist with sufficient skill too, so she wouldn’t have sent those of mediocre skills to apprehend her.
Should’ve brought some secret weapons with me for good measure.
Well, there’s no point regretting it now after dropping it while busy. The mood might turn sour if it’s like a clown carrying an unloaded gun in a children’s ward.
I began adjusting my pace nonchalantly to gradually separate from them.
‘If they’re targeting me, I must make a run for it!’
I suddenly picked up speed.
“She’s running away!”
“Catch her!”
Do they really think they can catch me so easily?
Even back when I only knew the basic stealth techniques, I was already at “civilian” level. Now, with five years’ worth of internal energy through mastered techniques, I’m not an easy target.
Enhanced agility lets me widen the gap like a prey escaping from predators, even if I don’t know how to use Light Body Movement.
‘Gotta head for the alley!’
I have no idea about their skill levels. But if they’ve come to catch Im Ha-yeon, there must be at least one martial artist among them well-versed in Light Body Movement.
Practically, running through main streets would be foolish.
No matter how confident you are and skilled in driving, a tofu shop driver wouldn’t operate on a course where their skills could easily be countered.
“Here! I’ll hold them off!”
Looks like I can’t rely solely on the alley. One of the martial artists caught up and unsheathed his sword.
“Tsk!”
I clicked my tongue and plunged through. The sword glinted, slashing as it came. It seemed it could slice through an arm in an instant.
Oi! Don’t forget, a black-haired person feels pain too.
“Who the—? Huh?”
In reality, it didn’t hurt at all.
When the martial artist’s swipe grazed my skin with the momentum of a figure skater over ice, his face shifted to that of shock.
Surprised? I’m thankful every time I use the Jade Face Protective Technique.
I caught the astonished martial artist’s wrist and hurled him towards the incoming pursuers.
“Argh!”
“A barbarian has learned martial arts!”
“Stop him at all costs!”
Another one stepped in. This time, I could sense they weren’t going to underestimate me. If I messed up, I could end up injured. I pretended to charge at the one in front and kicked off the alley wall to jump away.
“Uck!”
The guy, taken aback by my unexpected move, looked stunned as I used his shoulder as leverage.
“This is the Yosh 2nd Jump! You jerk!”
I released my internal energy from the bottom of my feet, propelling myself forward with a power that would leave any creator aghast. I soared over and cleared the alley wall in a flash.
“What?!”
Even crashing down from near the atmosphere, I landed as safely as a game protagonist as long as I landed in water, without losing a sliver of stamina.
“Follow her!”
My internal energy is still plentiful. Let’s see what you’ve got. I quickly increased the distance, manipulating my internal energy through my lower Dantian.
——————————————–
“Gasp gasp!”
I eventually found myself cornered against a dead-end wall.
“What the hell, how is a bookstore manager this spry?”
“A barbarian punk!”
“Gasp gasp! You guys, what’s this madness during the day?”
I leaned against the wall, casually asking those who had chased me down.
“If you knew it all, why the act?”
“I thought you were just some thief from the Black Knife, what’s your deal with me?”
I needed a moment to catch my breath and feign ignorance.
“No matter how I think about it, you seem to know the missing gal’s whereabouts in this city best. You must feel ashamed getting outsmarted by a crappy barbarian.”
“You mean you’re chasing me just for that?”
“Not just that! If you borrowed something of mine, you owe a usage fee. I heard you’ve got some money from Yichang?”
Thinking about it, they’re martial artists hired by the Hao-wen faction. The line between banditry and being a martial artist is razor thin.
“You don’t even know if she’s a runaway courtesan.”
“Stop joking and just admit it already. Let’s go. Spill everything you know about her and hand over your money, and maybe we’ll let you live.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Do I need to say it?”
The five martial artists appeared ready and unsheathed their swords all at once. The one who’d just been thrown was seething with poison.
“Hahaha!”
I see how it is.
I clutched my belly, laughing exaggeratedly at their antics.
“Has this punk lost it?”
I haven’t lost it.
I’m not showing off either.
With a nonchalant grin, I directed my words towards the thugs wielding swords beyond me.
“Did you all hear that?”
“Yes. I heard it clearly.”
I pointed at the wall I leaned against—our house wall.
—————
“Ugh!”
“Cough!”
“Flee, flee… Eek!”
It was a snap for capable postmen to subdue those hired by the Hao-wen faction. I’m thankful I insisted several times on enhancing security at the printing shop.
“Please reveal where you’re from and deal with them decisively.”
“I’ll find out even to the distant cousin!”
How dare they covet the life of the Tang family’s illegitimate child. The only ones who know how their destiny will unfold are the Seocheon Post Office.
I took a deep breath before making my way back to the inner room.
“Whoa!”
“Are you hurt?”
Is this how a cat awaiting its owner in a darkened room acts? As I opened the door to the inner room, Im Ha-yeon ran towards me with a startled expression.
“I just did a little training at night.”
“… Come in. I have some ointment in my room.”
“It only grazed me—Okay.”
Did she catch onto what happened to me?
Im Ha-yeon, with a worried expression, grabbed my arm and led me to the room I usually told her not to enter.
“What happened with the pursuers?”
While meticulously applying the ointment, Im Ha-yeon asked me.
“They targeted me to drag me off to the Seocheon Post Office, but I trust they’ll deal with it.”
“… ”
Im Ha-yeon paused her hand upon hearing I had been targeted and lowered her head. Is she feeling guilty? There’s no need for that.
“For now, work exclusively at the printing shop. Until we find a clue to resolve this situation, that’s for the best.”
As long as the word she’s living at the printing shop doesn’t spread, she’ll be safe for a while.
“But that means I won’t be of any help at the tea bookstore. And all this trouble because of me. If it’s like this, I might as well…”
“Why wouldn’t you help? Starting tomorrow, you’ll be in charge of document organization, ledger management, and printing duties at the tea bookstore.”
It’s finally time for me to step into my role as the true manager, taking all responsibilities at the tea bookstore. Where do you think you’re running to?
Im Ha-yeon looked at my face for a while, as though holding back her emotions, before speaking with a mix of sadness and regret.
“What if something like today happens again?”
“I’ll just run harder in the night.”
“But you got caught at Man Geum Bookstore.”
“Today, I didn’t get caught. I’ll just run harder.”
Things are different now. I’ve doubled my internal energy and gathered five years of experience.
“Sigh… Just running harder… Huh?”
Im Ha-yeon let out a sigh laced with concern and suddenly seemed to have a thought, letting out a small exclamation.
“Don’t worry so much.”
“… That can’t be. But… No, it shouldn’t be.”
Did she suddenly come up with a plot idea? Im Ha-yeon jumped up and began pacing around the room, mumbling to herself.
“Ha-yeon?”
Did my peculiar voice snap her out of it? Or maybe she just finished her thoughts.
Im Ha-yeon nodded and gazed at me, as if reaching a firm decision.
“Would you like to learn Light Body Movement from me?”
