Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: The Guest Who Came Boldly
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“No, they’re selling the liquor individually…?”
“Why is the Bamboo Leaf Qing priced like that?”
“Why is that guy being so nice today…?”
“Why are we…?”
The merchants at the next table kept muttering with resentful looks, so the flustered spy asked the man.
“Why are those people acting like that…?”
“Ahaha…, yeah. Why are they…?”
The man seemed just as flustered…
“Give me a moment. I’ll be right back.”
…and suddenly turned toward the merchants’ table with a fierce expression.
‘Did I see that wrong…?’
The man’s face had clearly looked friendly at first, but the one he showed when turning around was like a demon’s.
Soon after…, the man whispered something to the merchants…
“All sorted out. They seem to have had a bit too much to drink and made a mistake. Sorry if it bothered you.”
“…No, it’s fine.”
…and just like that, the next table went completely quiet.
‘Must be my imagination…?’
No way that friendly-looking guy threatened them.
The spy chalked it up to his imagination and poured himself a taste of the Bamboo Leaf Qing now placed before him.
“Oh.”
He was a little surprised.
He wasn’t exactly a connoisseur of liquor, but even his ignorant palate could tell this Bamboo Leaf Qing tasted different from usual.
Watching his expression, the man approached with a gentle smile.
“Is the liquor to your liking?”
“It tastes subtly different from the Bamboo Leaf Qing I know…, and it’s excellent.”
“Haha, glad you like it. Worth bringing the good stuff specially.”
“You brought good liquor specially…?”
When the spy asked, puzzled, the man fidgeted shyly and said,
“To be honest…, my father was a merchant just like you, sir.”
“And?”
“My father loved traveling the trade routes like this, stopping at inns for a drink along the way. But as you know, Hunan Province has lots of mountains and treacherous paths, so inns weren’t always around.”
“That’s true.”
Before he knew it, the spy found himself immersed in the man’s story, chiming in.
Pacing with the spy’s responses, the man’s tale flowed smoothly.
“Then one day, some kind-hearted soul with deep consideration opened up these mountain paths for merchants in Hunan. I came running right away and got permission to manage this pavilion. I plan to devote myself body and soul here to merchants like my father.”
“Hmm…, I see.”
Whether from the man’s utterly selfless face or the reasonable prices and tasty liquor, everything he said felt sincere.
“How do people generally regard the one who opened these paths?”
“Oh, very favorably. Everyone reveres him.”
“The prices here seem cheap. Are the other pavilions the same?”
“Yes, all pavilions have unified pricing.”
“Hmm…, the toll is pricey, but… this must be a huge boon for merchants.”
The spy even thought they ought to charge more.
Convenient paths for travel, rest stops along the way. Liquor of good quality at fair prices in the pavilions. And the guides were friendly too…
‘No matter how I look at it, raiding a place like this would bring more losses than gains.’
With that inner positive assessment, the spy downed his last cup and stood to inspect the rest thoroughly.
“Oh, leaving already?”
“The sun’s setting…. Gotta get going.”
“Yes, take care then. Come again.”
“Yeah, I’ll come again.”
Of course, unless there was extra business, no reason to return, but he gave a vague reply, packed his things, and left.
Just in case, he turned back and asked the man one last thing.
“What’s your name, by the way?”
“…My name? Uh…, well…. It’s Bang Sam.”
“…Pretty sure the guy I met at the first pavilion was also named Bang Sam.”
“…Not Bang Sam, Bang Sang. Bang Sam’s my older brother. Haha…, you must’ve exchanged names with my brother too….”
“Brothers, huh….”
Noting they didn’t look alike at all, the spy mentally recalled the name Bang Sang.
But no matter how he thought, no Bang Sang among martial world wanted criminals or offenders.
‘Clean, as expected.’
Oblivious that the man had given a false name, he waved once and hit the road.
And to the end, he never recalled seeing the man’s face in a wanted sketch before.
**
As the new guest’s retreating back grew smaller, the youngest, who’d just returned from the bandit lair, came back.
Watching the figure shrink to a dot, the youngest asked me.
“New face. Another guest?”
“Hmm…, no. That’s no guest. He’s a spy. Probably from the Murim Alliance.”
“…Huh? A spy? How’d you know? Didn’t feel like anything to me.”
“That’s the problem—he felt like nothing….”
“Huh?”
Martial artists who cultivate inner arts and build energy give off a palpable aura even at rest. That doesn’t mean ordinary folk have no presence.
Vital energy.
Even normal people have a faint flow of qi. It’s so weak most can’t sense it, but I can.
But that guest who just left…
“His vital energy was unstable. That happens often with people on the brink of death or the sick, but as you saw, he was fit as a fiddle? Obvious. The spy overdid it suppressing his aura and ended up masking his vital energy too.”
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough to be sure—there were other clues.
His clothes hid it, but solid musculature showed through. His eyes weren’t a merchant’s. And above all…
‘Have we met before…?’
Murim Alliance spies memorize wanted sketches of offenders and criminals.
“He must’ve seen my wanted sketch.”
The one spread by the Shansi Yu Clan.
Right before leaving after getting the ring from the Hao Sect Leader, I’d asked him to recall those sketches circulating in the markets.
But the Hao Sect’s reach probably didn’t extend to the Murim Alliance headquarters. The spy likely saw my sketch there.
‘Good thing he didn’t recognize me.’
Since it was the Shansi Yu Clan alone issuing the warrant, not the full Alliance, the spy didn’t pay it much mind. Thanks to that, he left without clocking my face.
And luckily, since he came to my pavilion, I could lay some groundwork.
“Youngest.”
“Yes, bro.”
“Round up the swift ones right now and relay to all pavilions: starting today, for the next seven days, everything except tolls is special discount. Shut up any merchants griping about it and act like it’s been this price from the start.”
“Got it!”
The youngest bolted toward the lair after answering.
With his lightness skill, it wouldn’t take long to spread the word to all pavilions.
“Phew, was worried for a bit, but things worked out.”
The spy’s expression wasn’t bad when he left the pavilion. He was surely evaluating our paths and pavilions positively deep down.
“Now I can finally stretch out and sleep easy.”
With that, I really lay down on the floor. Been running myself ragged personally till now.
But now it should be fine.
If that spy reports well to the Alliance, they’ll ease off on us with peace of mind.
“No hiccups in between, and we’re golden….”
Unexpected incidents cropped up midway, but all wrapped up fine, with good results.
My pouch now held hundreds of nyang in gold, and my men had mushroomed to hundreds.
Finally, my sweet rich bandit life begins.
So please, just this once, let it go smoothly.
Please—!
I prayed inwardly and closed my eyes.
**
One week later.
Life at the twenty Green Forest lairs continued after the spy slipped away. Especially the first pavilion where Bang Sam was posted overflowed with people seeking passage permits.
“Yes, next person.”
Bang Sam couldn’t help but grumble.
‘What the hell am I doing right now…?’
At first, when the underlings increased, it felt great. From third-in-command in a five-man bandit crew to third-in-command in a massive Green Forest with hundreds.
But now?
Forget third-in-command of a grand Green Forest—he was just a hard-laboring path guide.
“Sigh…, look at my fate….”
Lamenting his lot, Bang Sam received the endless guests.
“Yes, next.”
And then…
“…Huh?”
“……”
“Y-you’re….”
He spotted a familiar face before him and couldn’t hide his shock.