Chapter 48
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Five Whole Roasted Lambs
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Finally, the Shenzhou Merchant Company's caravan rolled into Lanzhou.
Lanzhou was the largest city on the western frontier of the Central Plains, its prosperity rivaling that of Xi'an.
Passing through the massive city gates, they found wide boulevards stretching refreshingly in all four directions, bustling with throngs of people, horses, and carriages coming and going.
The caravan, guided by Gangpyo and the others who had gone ahead to book their lodgings, pulled into the courtyard of Lanzhou's grandest inn.
"Alright, everyone, take it easy now. We depart in two days, so have a relaxed drink tonight and spend tomorrow as you please."
Sa Hongcheon called out to Seonwoyong, who was just stepping down from his carriage, a lighthearted smile on his face.
They had business to attend to in Lanzhou.
They needed to restock the supplies depleted during the journey and inspect the horses and carriages.
"You've all worked hard. Even you, Elder Haeng, can finally get some rest."
"Indeed. Inside Lanzhou's walls, there's no need for worry, so I can finally sleep soundly. And maybe hit the baths too. Heh heh..."
It wasn't an exaggeration—they hadn't washed with hot water in nearly a month, so everyone looked more like beggars than merchants.
After tending to the horses and carriages first, they all scattered to wash up and change clothes.
There weren't many rooms with private tubs, so most of the workers headed straight for the inn's public bathhouse.
As the leader of the Great Fortune Merchant Company, Seonwoyong naturally claimed a fine room for himself alone.
But Dogwang wouldn't let him be.
"Hey, let me wash up here too. No way a tub's fitting in my room. Tsk."
Striding in like it was his own space, Dogwang took one look at the steaming wooden tub and stripped off his clothes without a second thought.
"Have you ever seen such a rude bastard? Since when does a guest undress before the host?"
Ignoring Seonwoyong's scolding, Dogwang plunged straight into the hot water.
"Ahh, this hits the spot. Come on in, you too. It's a bit cramped, but I'll make room. Heh heh..."
Leaving Dogwang's teasing behind, Seonwoyong stood by the window, gazing down at Lanzhou's streets lost in thought.
The Grand Intoxicated Pavilion, true to its reputation as Lanzhou's premier inn, boasted a massive and ornate tavern.
As evening fell, the Shenzhou Merchant Company's group gathered in the tavern, claiming their tables.
Having scrubbed off the grime of the road and polished up, it was time to oil their throats.
"Everyone, you've earned this. No interference for the next two days—drink up and rest well."
Sa Hongcheon went from table to table, pouring drinks.
Seonwoyong sat with Dogwang, Han Sojung, Elder Jang, and the others, enjoying food and drink.
But then he butted in again. Bangchung.
His face already flushed from heavy drinking, he approached their table with a bottle in one hand and a cup in the other, plopping down uninvited.
"Come on, have a drink. The booze here's top-notch. Food too."
"Tch. Anyone'd think you were buying. Acting all high and mighty when you're just mooching."
"Hey now, why the attitude? Sure, I look like I'm slacking, but do you know the worries I've carried?"
Dogwang and Bangchung were already bickering.
The others, long accustomed to it, ignored them and focused on their meal.
Just then, a group entered the tavern.
"What? No rooms, no seats in the tavern?"
"That's right. A large merchant caravan just arrived..."
There were six of them: four young men and two young women.
Both men and women carried longswords at their waists—they were clearly martial artists, dressed in flashy attire.
"Fetch the innkeeper at once. He'll come when I summon him."
The young man leading the argument issued his demand like a threat to the middle-aged waiter attending them.
"Well, perhaps you could share your esteemed name?"
"Naturally. This one's name is..."
"Enough, Brother Ak. Inns are a dime a dozen in Lanzhou—what's the big deal?"
One of the men standing behind stopped the one called Brother Ak.
"No. We've come all the way to Lanzhou, and the Grand Intoxicated Pavilion is the place. Wait a moment. I'll have them make a room appear if they must, or seize a seat if needed."
When Brother Ak dug in his heels, the others backed off indifferently.
Soon, a man who seemed to be the inn's manager appeared to deal with them.
He then approached one of the occupied tables where guests were eating and drinking, bowing his head and pleading his case.
Evidently acquainted with the manager, the guests at that table nodded and stood.
Once the table was cleared, the newcomers took their seats.
Smirking smugly as they placed their orders, they glanced around.
The surrounding patrons were mostly Shenzhou Merchant Company workers.
Rough types for the most part, they tore into duck legs and pork ribs with their hands, guzzling liquor from large bowls.
The martial artist surnamed Ak wrinkled his nose.
"The atmosphere here's a real mess today."
"Well, we've got seats now—let's drink up and enjoy."
The man beside him soothed him again, pouring a fresh cup from the newly arrived bottle.
"Low-class thugs like that are everywhere you go."
Dogwang muttered, watching them.
"Too many with no class. What the hell's the jianghu coming to? Tsk tsk..."
Bangchung clicked his tongue in agreement.
Then Jin Seolhwa came down late, scanned the tavern, and approached Seonwoyong's table.
"You've all started without me. I was a bit late. Mind if I join?"
Dogwang and Bangchung's jaws dropped at the sight of her.
Truth be told, throughout the journey, Jin Seolhwa had worn a veiled hat and a dust-caked traveling cloak.
There'd been neither time nor circumstance to care about appearances.
But now, freshly bathed, lightly made up, and dressed in a vibrant green silk outfit, she looked like a celestial fairy.
She was in her mid-thirties, yet possessed the refined air of a lily-like beauty.
With such stunning features and a figure that could pass for her twenties, no one in the tavern that night could match her allure.
"Ahem... I knew you as Iron Butterfly, but you're a true beauty of a butterfly. Please, sit here."
Bangchung was first to flirt, offering her the seat beside him.
Dogwang, eager to win her favor, hastily cleared spare plates and utensils from his side.
"Come on, have a drink. The food and wine here are excellent."
"Thank you. You too, Hero Bang—another round. I haven't properly thanked you for your protection along the way."
As Bangchung refilled her cup, Jin Seolhwa graciously played along.
She had traveled separately in her own carriage with two maids, rarely mingling with the others.
After a few rounds, as the mood heated up, the banquet's special dish arrived.
Whole lambs roasted with an array of spices.
They came head to tail, but the aroma was already filling the hall.
And there were five of them.
The chefs carried the lambs from the kitchen, expertly carving them with practiced hands and distributing portions to the Shenzhou tables.
This whole roasted lamb was, of course, specially ordered by the Shenzhou group.
The other guests could only watch enviously.
But the newcomers weren't pleased.
The Ak-surnamed martial artist summoned the manager again, gesturing wildly toward the Shenzhou tables and berating him.
Soon, the manager approached Jin Seolhwa.
"My apologies, but might you spare one of the five lambs you ordered—the one not yet carved—for that group over there? Truly sorry."
With Sa Hongcheon away checking on something, the manager bowed to her.
Jin Seolhwa glanced briefly at the six youths' table, then surveyed the merchant company's tables.
Everyone was devouring the fresh lamb with gusto.
One per thirty men—it wasn't an extravagant amount.
Their own table hadn't even received theirs yet.
"Sorry, but everyone's enjoying it too much. Doesn't look like we have any to spare. Just divide it up among ours—all of it."
When Jin Seolhwa flatly refused, the manager retreated in distress.
In truth, whole roasted lamb required advance payment and reservation.
Making such a request was improper to begin with.
Yet some people were oblivious to propriety everywhere, and this Ak fellow shot to his feet, striding over after hearing the manager's report on her refusal.
"You there—the Shenzhou merchants from Xi'an, I hear. What's so burdensome about yielding one of five lambs? Why crush this lady's face like this?"
His tablemates stared at the young expert in stunned disbelief.
Jin Seolhwa rose gracefully, cupping her fists in salute.
"I am Jin Seolhwa, in charge of the Shenzhou Merchant Company's Gold Pavilion. Modest as it is, in Xi'an they call me the Iron Seal. And your esteemed name, young hero?"
Her response was the epitome of jianghu etiquette—polite yet dignified.
"Iron Seal...? Never heard of you from Xi'an circles. I am Ak Ji-gwang, second son of the current clan head, Great Hero Ak Seung of the Shandong Ak Clan."
Ak Ji-gwang, as he named himself, stood rigidly without returning the salute or bowing, scanning Seonwoyong's group.
And he had reason to.