Found a Way
"Hee-ya, hee-ya!"
Not long after, the coachman brought the horses to a halt.
"We've arrived, sir."
The servant attending us hopped out of the carriage first and pulled back the curtain. Having money really does make life convenient, I thought anew as I set foot on the ground.
I glanced around and spoke up.
"They weren't kidding when they said this was the second-richest household. What a display of grandeur."
A vast estate sprawled before us, surrounded by a bustling commercial district teeming with people.
"Heh heh. It's the second-richest, sure, but it's still bigger and grander than Jecheon Palace, sir."
"Hm."
Ever since entering this city ruled by Daoist leaders, I'd been curious about Jecheon Palace. The fact that its original name as an "immortal's abode" had changed only fueled that interest. Still, with what Director Seon Ga-hee had told me, I'd need to tread carefully. And who knew when those folks from the 18th Branch might show up here.
I subtly flipped back my outer robe to reveal the suit underneath and asked the servant, "Have you seen anyone else dressed like me around?"
Suits stood out too much here, so I'd thrown on some local clothes that blended in with the crowd. The servant stroked his chin, eyes narrowing in thought, then shook his head.
"Can't say I have, sir."
"Got it."
I nodded and slipped him a single silver coin—spoils from looting that Gold Clan leader Geum-jong-gi's stash back in the fairy village.
"If you hear anything worth telling me, give me a heads-up."
"Aigoo, master! Of course, sir."
He grinned ear to ear and quickly tucked the silver into his bosom. Then he politely gestured toward the main gate.
"This way, sir. Allow me to escort you."
"Sure."
And so I stepped into the domain of House Jin, home of Sangjo Pyoguk.
Sangjo Pyoguk was the escort agency run by House Jin; "Sangjo" didn't mean anything special—it was just the name of the founder. After going through a few procedures, I was led into the agency's guest quarters.
"Young master!"
Word of my arrival must have spread fast, because a familiar voice called out.
"Jin Hwa-wol?"
She hurried over and grabbed my hand tightly. Her face flushed as she shyly opened her mouth.
"I've been thinking of you day and night, wondering when you'd come."
"Uh... "
"Could it be... you haven't missed me at all, young master?"
Jin Hwa-wol eyed me anxiously. This feels ominous somehow. Hoping it wasn't heading where I feared, I cleared my throat to change the subject.
"Ahem. Anyway, what about that promised reward...?"
"Of course it's ready, young master. Please, come inside."
As we headed to the agency master's room, Jin Hwa-wol stuck close to my side, refusing to let go. She'd steal glances at my face, then blush to her ears and look away whenever our eyes met.
Screeech.
The door swung open, and sure enough, there they were: Jin Jang-ho and a middle-aged man with graying hair, sitting side by side. That must be the father of these two siblings. He looked me up and down and spoke.
"So you're the Kim fellow who saved Jang-ho and Wol-a. Quite the heroic look, just as they said. Sit. I'm Jin Kang-o, master of Sangjo Pyoguk."
I swallowed hard, nerves on edge, and replied.
"Kim Jeongha. I'd like to hear about the reward first."
"Ho ho. How worldly. But not bad—perfect for running an escort agency, in fact."
"Meaning...?"
No way. It couldn't be. I desperately denied the reality looming ahead and listened closely.
Jin Kang-o's mouth opened.
"You've got the martial prowess, the chivalry and guts, good looks to boot, and just the right touch of worldly ambition. A perfect match. Marry Wol-a."
"...Pardon?"
"Wol-a seems taken with you too, so no objections there."
"Father... "
Jin Hwa-wol covered her face with both hands, at a loss.
"No, no. I have objections."
Jin Kang-o's eyebrows twitched.
"What?"
"You might not have heard, but I'm from a foreign land. I have no intention of settling down here—and my circumstances won't allow it anyway."
I rushed to explain, and both Jin Jang-ho and Jin Kang-o let out heavy sighs in unison.
"More than that, you've got Jin Jang-ho right here. I can't wrap my head around handing the agency to me instead."
Exactly. With a perfectly healthy son, why pass the family business to a son-in-law?
"My worthless son is a seedless watermelon."
"Pardon?"
"Don't understand? He's impotent!"
"Ah, Father!"
Jin Jang-ho paled and flailed his hands in panic.
"... "
I doubted my ears for a moment, but it suddenly made sense. In the end, I heard the full story from a sighing Jin Jang-ho. He already had a wife and several concubines, but despite years of effort, no children. After much deliberation, they called in a renowned physician, who uncovered the unbelievable truth.
That explained wanting me as a live-in son-in-law. But as I'd said, I was an employee of Hunter Stock Company—and an immortal cultivator. I had no plans to run an escort agency here. Nor could I. This was a stage, after all, and stages had to be cleared. Though since it was originally 18th Branch territory, the rules might not apply to me as a 17th Branch employee. Still, I had zero intention of leaving empty-handed.
Tears streaming down her face, Jin Hwa-wol wailed, "D-Do I not please you, young master? Sob sob."
"Hmmm... "
"Ahem!"
As she cried, Jin Jang-ho and Jin Kang-o shifted uncomfortably.
"Wh-what's this disgrace in front of a guest? Stop those tears at once."
"But... "
Jin Kang-o barked, and Jin Hwa-wol fled the room, hiding her face.
"Ahem. We've shown you an ugly scene. Allow me to apologize on my sister's behalf."
I waved it off.
"It's fine. Now that you know my stance, it's time for another proposal."
I decided to be direct. Even if Jecheon Palace had gained the upper hand lately, a great house was still a great house. There had to be something less costly than handing over a daughter and the business—something that would satisfy me too.
"If you insist... "
"Oh, and no money, by the way."
"Hm?!"
The two Jins' eyes bulged in shock. Fair enough—they'd just seen my mercenary side.
"I want something useful to a martial artist. Elixirs or the like."
"Hoo... "
They looked deep in thought. Seemed they hadn't prepared anything beyond marriage or cash. After whispering among themselves for a while, Jin Kang-o stroked his beard and spoke.
"I'll need to consult the household staff. We can't just send our benefactor away empty-handed, so stay as our guest for a bit."
"Fine by me."
As long as the reward was solid, a few days wouldn't hurt. With the Cromwell key, I could hop between Parachao Pavilion, the company, and Hu'an City anytime anyway.
"Tsk tsk. What a shame. Such a waste."
Jin Kang-o, master of Sangjo Pyoguk, clicked his tongue.
Clang! Claaang!
The more he watched the man sparring with the agency's escorts in the training yard, the more regretful he felt.
"Uwaaak!"
"Kwaaak!"
"Thud!"
No one in the agency could beat him. They'd usually stagger back three steps after a single clash. These were escorts he'd hired at great expense, trained in top-tier martial arts—how could they be so helpless?
With this bold man, Kim Jeongha, both Wol-a's heartbreak and the Jecheon Palace issue would resolve themselves.
Of course, the palace problem carried far more weight.
"What to do... "
He'd racked his brains day and night for a fitting reward. Even hashing it out with his top lieutenants yielded no consensus.
Then, Chief Escort Jeong Mu-kyeong spoke up.
"Master, why not give him that?"
"That?"
"You know, the painting."
"The painting... you mean the one torn in half?"
Jeong Mu-kyeong glanced around and nodded.
"Yes. The one Jecheon Palace kept nagging us to sell them."
"Hm...!"
Jin Kang-o's eyes lit up. But he shook his head.
"Out of the question. That's what drew the thieves in the first place."
"Are you certain it was because of that, master? Maybe it was just petty thieves eyeing something valuable."
Jin Kang-o pondered gravely. Running a wealthy agency meant dealing with thieves often enough. He knew—the bandits back then had almost certainly targeted that painting.
He furrowed his brow.
"Nonsense, Chief Escort. Didn't you say a man with a scar matching the one your blade left on that thief's neck was spotted at Jecheon Palace?"
"If we both keep quiet, no one will know."
The implication was clear: pass any potential misfortune onto Kim Jeongha.
"Hah! Repay a benefactor like that? Absurd."
"It won't be a bad deal for him either."
"How can you be sure?"
"He's a wanderer who won't stick around. Give him decent compensation, and he'll leave happy. Win-win, right?"
Jeong Mu-kyeong cleared his throat and continued.
"Plus, Jecheon Palace will stop hounding us for the painting, and no more nighttime thieves."
"Hmmm!"
He'd nailed it. Repay the benefactor, ditch the palace headache—one stone, two birds! But two issues remained.
"What if he asks where the other half is?"
"Just drop a hint."
"And if he gets mad we offer a torn-up painting as 'reward'?"
"Word is he's not just a martial artist—he wields strange powers and artifacts freely. If the painting truly holds mystical power, surely he'll recognize its value."
"Hrm...!"
It was also a chance to uncover the painting's secrets. The cost? Handing it over entirely. But without the other half, it was a hot potato anyway.
Then—
"What's this painting that's got you so worked up? Let's take a look."
"Ah, the painting in question is... Huh?!"
"Wha?!"
Jin Kang-o and Jeong Mu-kyeong whipped their heads up at the sudden voice.
After laying out every escort who'd challenged me to a duel, I headed back to the guest quarters. That's when I spotted the agency master and chief escort whispering. Curious, I slipped onto the eaves and eavesdropped—it was about my reward.
They were scheming something shady, so I decided to step in midway. I didn't want trouble in someone else's turf.
Sure enough, they looked like kids caught playing with fire, staring up at me in panic. I dropped down between them.
Jin Kang-o blinked in confusion, face flushing as he cleared his throat.
"Ahem! L-look here, Kim hero. What we were just discussing... "
"We'll talk later. First, lead the way. Where's the painting?"
Clink, clink. I fiddled with the Sealed Sword at my waist, exuding an aura that screamed trouble if they didn't spill.
"...This way."
"Th-then I'll be going. You two talk."
"Hey, Chief Escort!"
Jeong Mu-kyeong bolted at the chance. Fine by me—one person to wring the secrets from was enough, and the master was the highest rank here.
"Let's go."
Prodded, the ashen-faced Jin Kang-o dragged his feet into motion. Our destination: the master's inner quarters.
His concubine, Lady Min, was in the bedroom. She gasped at the sight of me.
"Oh dear, if a guest has arrived, you should have brought him to the guest quarters. This place is so humble."
Jin Kang-o glanced between us and sighed softly.
"Dear, send a servant for some tea. This'll take a while."
"Got it. Talk away."
Slide. As Lady Min closed the door behind her, Jin Kang-o began shoving the wardrobe with grunts.
"Kim hero, mind giving this a push?"
"No problem."
Hup! I gathered qi in my palm and struck the side. Thud! It slid smoothly aside, revealing a safe in the wall, about a meter square.
"...Thanks."
He eyed me warily, then reached deep into the safe and pulled out a scroll painting on jade silk paper.
It gleamed with its own white luster, so mesmerizing I couldn't look away.
"This is...?"