“You want me to repay the debt because Man Geum-jeon said to run a business? If it fails, I take on all the debt? And you agreed to that?”
Im Ha-yeon couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping after hearing what happened between me and Man Geum-jeon.
“The debt from Da-seo-gak would take ages to pay off, no matter how much we sell The Rise of the Tang Family. Paying off the entire debt? That’s worth considering.”
The test Man Geum-jeon laid out ultimately benefits Man Geum Battlefield.
If I win, the huge debt disappears in an instant—what a loss for them. And if I lose, Man Geum Battlefield only recovers the initial investment.
“I know from the ledger… but should I just go back to Yichang right now and transport The Rise of the Tang Family?”
“The Rise of the Tang Family is a no-go. That was part of Man Geum-jeon’s conditions.”
“Then what do I do?”
Im Ha-yeon’s voice trembled with worry as she asked me.
“We’ve got a bit of time to brainstorm business ideas. I’m going to think this over for a while.”
Maybe I should consider starting the matchmaking business again. I could turn The Rise of the Tang Family into a play and sell tickets for it. If I coordinate with Im Ha-yeon, it might just turn out to be a really fun show.
What about selling medicine for some extra income? If it’s from the Tang Family, it might sell like hotcakes among the people in Yichang.
Of course, I’d be instantly reported to the Tang Family, but if I could sell books along with it, I don’t think I could satisfy Man Geum-jeon, who asked me to run a business.
“Uh… how about I sell my novel…”
“Hmm?”
“I-I could sell my novel and use the profits for this.”
Im Ha-yeon spoke to me with a firm expression, as if she had made a significant decision.
“Ha ha ha.”
“Why are you laughing! You never know!”
I guess her bold determination turned to laughter. Im Ha-yeon blushed and spoke shyly.
“I’m not mocking you. Don’t misunderstand. I just didn’t explain well enough. I was told that running a bookstore isn’t allowed.”
I laughed at her impressive ambition.
“Ugh! You should have said that earlier….”
Im Ha-yeon pouted her lips, as if regretting speaking up.
“Haha! Now that I can’t do anything without any connections in Wuhan, let’s worry about this together.”
Before I returned to the inn, it felt like I was going to take on a test all alone in isolation. But now that I think about it, having someone who cares and can help me makes it seem doable.
I looked at her like an adventurer who just recruited a supportive priest who gives buffs just by being there.
“Alright, let’s work hard.”
Did she find my gaze too overwhelming? Im Ha-yeon avoided my eyes and nodded.
When’s the food going to come?
“Brother. I’ve returned from the errand you gave me.”
While waiting for food at the inn’s table, I heard a familiar Joseon language.
Turning around, I saw a black-haired man. He looked like the Joseon person who begged An-hyung before entering the inn.
“Good. If you brought it well, where’s the money?”
“Here it is. But, brother…”
The man looked at the little kids who seemed to be his and couldn’t lift his head toward the innkeeper.
“Tsk. This much pay isn’t even enough… I’ll give you some rice soup, but take care of feeding the kids.”
“Thank you, brother!”
Looks like the inn owner, An, is quite generous. It seems he wanted to feed the man who came begging under the pretext of running a small errand.
Come to think of it, are there quite a few Joseon people in Wuhan?
“Looks like there are many Joseons like you around. I sensed a flow of Joseon people coming in just now.”
Im Ha-yeon whispered in my ear, as if reading my thoughts.
“It’s an inn run by Joseon people, so they must be coming to eat Joseon food.”
“Seems more like people come to beg rather than as customers.”
“Hmmm.”
In a world that immediately discriminates against black-haired individuals, come to think of it, another Joseon I passed by earlier seemed shocked when they saw the clothes I wore. Are they all struggling to survive?
“Brother Kang! Haha! What secret conversation were you having just now?”
An-hyung chuckled heartily as he set the food down on our table.
“It’s nothing like that!”
“The lady seems quite shy; is she like that even at night?”
An-hyung slyly asked me in Joseon language, hoping Im Ha-yeon wouldn’t understand.
“At night, she cries quite a bit.”
She came in and wept so much in my bed.
“Haha! That seems likely.”
“What are you saying in Joseon?!”
“They say Im Ha-yeon is the most beautiful woman in Wuhan. I agreed too.”
“I don’t think so…”
Im Ha-yeon looked skeptical, but after glancing at me, she seemed to gain some confidence with the compliment, so she didn’t pry further.
“An-hyung, it seems there are quite a number of Joseon people in Wuhan.”
I asked An-hyung, who still hadn’t left his seat.
“You know, there are so many from the Central Plains in Wuhan. Us Joseon folks can earn a living through odd jobs.”
It seems there are quite a few Joseon people working tough jobs in Wuhan.
“Ah?! Joseon people? Do you know An-hyung?”
The man who had just run errands and fed his kids came over to us.
“Ah, yes. We’re from the same hometown; we met by coincidence today.”
“I see! Our An-hyung leads the Joseon people’s gatherings here in Wuhan.”
“An-hyung?”
“He’s one of the few successful Joseon folks in Wuhan.”
“Ahem. This person!”
The innkeeper chuckled, patting the man’s shoulder with an embarrassed smile. Surely, the inn we were staying in looked shabby, but it wasn’t something to treat lightly.
This is Hubei Province, Wuhan. It’s not a place with a trade route to Joseon, nor a coastal area close to Joseon. It’s a place where people with issues, like me, wander.
If someone could operate an inn here, it might be like a poor foreign laborer in South Korea owning a diner in the heart of Seoul.
“Wow. An-hyung found success in Wuhan. It seems I’ve settled in Yichang; it looks like there’s no shortage of connections among us Namwon folks.”
I beamed while jokingly uplifting An-hyung.
“Hey, aren’t you running a small bookstore in Yichang? That’s curious! What’s it like for Namwon people?”
“This is all because we Namwon people grew up receiving the spirit of Jirisan.”
I said this as seriously as a grade schooler believing in their school song.
“Haha! Well, the folks from the Central Plains might not know, but Jirisan surely is something special!”
“Haha! I guess Namwon people can thrive even in foreign lands!”
I rambled excitedly like I was a Jirisan black sheep who had been wandering around after falling victim to gambling.
“Ah… But it seems I’ll need to close the business soon.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I started with odd jobs from the Central Plains and was able to reach here through the skills I learned at the inn in Joseon. But this inn…”
“Is business bad?”
It doesn’t look like he has many customers.
“It’s because it’s run by a black-haired man. There’s something people tend to avoid. Still, since it’s in the middle of the residential district, people who don’t want to cook at home would seek us out. But those idiots… Welcome!”
The innkeeper didn’t finish his reason for thinking of closing down as he greeted someone entering through the door.
Huh? That person…
I saw someone I recognized from the port this morning. It’s the Hao-mun affiliated Si-mun.
“Si-mun Hyang-ju is calling for you.”
And just before I even had my soup spoon in hand.
—————————
In the Wuhan Hao-mun, there’s no branch leader.
Instead, the Hyang-ju who leads each faction gathers to decide on various matters. Each faction in Hubei Province operates while following the commands of the Hyang-ju, but at the same time, they act to survive on their own.
This is because Hao-mun was formed by groups like yangban, gisaeng, coachmen, thieves, and gamblers, rather than structured like other factions.
We passed through the massive restaurant that’s rare even in Yichang and were ushered into a lavishly decorated room where Si-mun Hyang-ju was.
With all kinds of imaginative creatures carved into the beams, it seems the Wuhan Hao-mun must be making good money.
When we opened the door to the room where the tensed-looking Si-mun Hyang-ju was, instead of the typical ominous faces of the factions, we were greeted by a warm-looking man who seemed like he would run a franchise and remain unfazed by criticism from his wife when he got home.
“The Do-mun bastards have gone mad. They’re attacking our own?”
Si-mun Hyang-ju crumpled the paper as he looked over the information from his umbrella, clenching his teeth.
“There isn’t definitive proof, but the circumstantial evidence is clear.”
The Do-mun rebellion. If it’s this significant, I might just be able to use it as a joker for Im Ha-yeon.
“The Do-mun bastards are coming at us like this… So, Deputy Gwak, what do you want in exchange for this valuable information?”
“Im Ha-yeon has merely fallen victim to the Do-mun’s schemes. I would like your assistance in helping her regain her status as a proper courtesan.”
“No.”
He refused outright.
“W-Why?”
“May I inquire about your reasoning?”
How lightly he refused after pretending to consider! He seems to lack a solid reason for a leader of such a faction.
“Well, I do have a guess as to why the Do-mun bastards have been causing trouble, but if we stir the pot too recklessly, it could repeat the incident from ten years ago.”
Is he referring to the rebellion incident that swept through the Hao-mun?
“You mean to just let it happen?”
“The fact that they committed such an outrageous thing suggests they are prepared to be discovered. Without solid proof, we could end up on the receiving end. Right now, our best option is to keep an eye on the Do-mun bastards and see if they continue their antics.”
“So you’re saying it’s impossible to resolve the issue with Im Ha-yeon?”
In the end, it seems there’s nothing we can do since we don’t have any solid evidence, and they can’t recklessly spill blood among their own.
“The Do-mun is gnashing its teeth and looking for the girl. If we interfere in this ambiguous situation, making the enemy aware of our presence would be worse than doing nothing.”
“But the Wuhan Hao-mun has suffered a blow!”
“Well, let that be something you take to the Ki-mun folks or take up with the Do-mun.”
Even with Im Ha-yeon’s pleading voice, Si-mun Hyang-ju’s voice remained indifferent.
“Surely, there must be a way.”
“Hmm, a way… Kang Yoon-ho, right? Have you and that girl been intimate?”
“W-What are you talking about?”
Im Ha-yeon seemed flustered at the sudden question, her voice shaking.
“You’re not in that kind of relationship, are you?”
“W-What do you mean?”
Why are you looking at me?
“Hehe. So it is that sort of relationship. Alright. Respecting Deputy Gwak’s dignity, I’ll protect her for a while, but the rest is up to you, Kang Yoon-ho.”
“Are you serious?”
“Da-seo-gak’s Kang Yoon-ho. The best bookstore in Yichang and owner of the most reliable materials. I can’t deny that Deputy Gwak has sent a very promising person, but that doesn’t mean I’ll acknowledge you.”
“What do you mean by acknowledgment?”
“That you’re not one of my people. So find a way to make me believe you’re useful. Show me your abilities, and then I’ll help secure the woman who belongs to my faction.”
That’s where the conversation with Si-mun Hyang-ju ended.
—————-
“Why the hell are there so many people wanting to see my abilities?”
Should I show him a status window or something?
“Status Window! Ssssstaaatusss wiiindow!!”
In my dreams, if I could show it, I would want to, but there’s no way that would magically appear.
“What are you on about? Are you sick?!”
After finishing her business, Im Ha-yeon came back, her face alarmed.
“Gugu!”
“Stay back and step away!”
“Gugu…”
After Im Ha-yeon said something to dozens of carrier pigeons, they flew up to the sky looking disappointed.
“Just screaming out of frustration. By the way, where did these carrier pigeons come from?”
I didn’t bring any pigeons with me when I came here.
“They’re the ones I sent from the umbrella to Wuhan. I was told to return them, but if they go back to nature, they’ll turn into ordinary pigeons anyway. So I’m contemplating whether to let them go.”
If I had to carry them all around, it wouldn’t be The Shadowless Thief but The Pigeon-Thief-huh.
“Aren’t they kind of special?”
“There are occasionally some like Gugu that can understand human language just fine, but most only serve the role of sturdy and clever carrier pigeons. That’s why we don’t give them unique names.”
So they’re like mass-produced spiritual creatures.
I nodded and turned back toward the inn where we were staying with Im Ha-yeon.
“A skill that can get me recognized as part of the Si-mun faction.”
From Man Geum Battlefield to the Hao-mun’s Si-mun. I haven’t even completed the listening test, yet I feel like I’ve been forcibly moved on to the next problem.
“Don’t overthink it, just think about Da-seo-gak. If worst comes to worst…”
Im Ha-yeon hesitated as if she couldn’t finish her sentence. She looked like she wanted to give up again.
“I’ll solve both problems. Don’t think of giving up; help me work hard.”
In times like this, it’s not just good to cheer someone on but also important to let them know they’re needed. It’s how you gain the courage to stand up with the help of others.
I told Im Ha-yeon not to worry.
“…Then does that mean…”
“Shut it, you pigeon!!! We’re gonna go out of business!!!”
Im Ha-yeon’s words were cut off by a noise coming from a distance.
“Is that coming from the inn we’re staying at?”
————
“What in the world?”
When I dashed to the inn, An was already in chaos.
“Oh dear!!!”
Turning my gaze, I saw the innkeeper An crying loudly. What the heck happened?
“Cough! Innkeeper. Please fix this.”
“Why does it seem like there’s always a fight in our inn!”
“It started here first, so payment must be made here!”
“It’s probably because there’s no risk of getting hurt even if it gets wrecked!!!”
Looks like the martial artists got into a fight at the inn.
Inside the inn, there were about six armed martial artists, and dead martial artists laid elsewhere.
It seems that this wasn’t the first time either.
“That damn black-haired barbarian! Hey! Pull out some money! We need to fix this before we come to fight again!”
“This amount won’t even buy a chair!”
“What are you talking about? Let’s go. After all, fighting is best at an inn!”
“Exactly!”
The innkeeper, with wide eyes, simply looked on at the departing martial artists.
“What happened here, brother?”
I asked An-hyung, who was moving the dismembered limbs of the dead martial artist to one side with slumped shoulders.
“Brother, I’ll close the business as of today! I can’t keep the inn going because of these martial artists.”
An-hyung turned his head away, perhaps not wanting to show his painful expression to the younger townsfolk.
Is the reason for closing the inn really because of the martial artists fighting here? Martial artists are a nuisance to life.
This is why one must never operate an inn in a martial arts world.
Wait… An inn?
For a moment, I assembled the problems and conditions in my mind.
What am I lacking? Connections and relations in Wuhan. What do I need to do? The test with Si-mun. The test with Man Geum Battlefield.
What do I have? What can I try? What advantages can I take advantage of?
I got it.
“Brother.”
I found a way to resolve my issues all at once.
“Why?”
“I’ll take over this inn.”
