Endless Crowds at the Yongmun Escort Bureau
The Yongmun Escort Bureau headquarters in Luoyang, home of the Yongmun Family, was always swarming with people. Even without festivals, it drew massive crowds eager to entrust their goods for transport—as befitting Luoyang's largest escort agency, the escorts and guards on duty exuded a formidable presence. Right after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the place was even more packed than usual, still buzzing from the celebrations.
"Bureau Leader, at this rate, we'll get swept away by the crowd before we even see the Chief!"
"It's insane..."
Baek Su-gyeong stared in dismay at the enormous line snaking out from the entrance of the Yongmun Escort Bureau. Even before he quit, the place had been thriving, but something must have happened while he was holed up in Wuan. It was crawling with people like never before. He wondered if he'd even get to meet Ji Wi-sang at this rate.
Namgung Som-in spoke up. "Teacher. This doesn't look promising. There are so many waiting, and even if we do wait, I'm not sure if Sword of the Dragon Pattern Ji, the great hero, will still be there..."
"Hmph, what's the intent behind such defeatist talk, Lady Namgung?"
Namgung Som-in shot back coolly at So Ssaang-a's retort. "I'm just stating the facts, Lady So."
"You didn't have to say it in front of the Bureau Leader, did you?"
"Then how do you plan to pass this boring time?"
Their verbal sparring was fierce. While sparks flew between So Ssaang-a and Namgung Som-in, Gal Ye-ryeong covered her mouth with her fan and chuckled softly. Her gaze turned to Baek Su-gyeong.
"For now, since it's still hot out, how about we duck into the shade? Baek Teacher."
"We'll sit and rest a bit, and the line should thin out. Sounds good."
As Baek Su-gyeong naturally sided with her suggestion, the two women locked in battle turned their glares on Gal Ye-ryeong.
That woman again...!
Trying to lead Teacher around by the nose!
Hmph, if it bothers you, act smarter.
A tense atmosphere crackled between the three. As they strolled Luoyang's streets in search of a shady shop, Baek Su-gyeong felt relieved that his face wasn't widely known. The wanted sketches of him had only been distributed near the Murim Alliance in Xuchang. Before leaving, he'd asked Jang Hyo-un to collect and destroy them all, so they were probably gone by now.
"It's October, but the days are still so hot..."
"Summer's dragging on strangely this year. A late summer like this isn't good."
This year, summer had been unusually long. Even in early October, the midday sun scorched relentlessly—a prolonged heatwave with no end in sight. Days were shortening, yet the afternoons stayed sweltering.
"Well, better than outright cold, I guess."
Gal Ye-ryeong smoothly took the seat across from Baek Su-gyeong. Namgung Som-in and So Ssaang-a followed belatedly, eyeing each other warily as they claimed spots. At least Gal Ye-ryeong had some conscience and didn't take the seat right next to him—but that, too, was a clever ploy. Snagging the spot beside him would mean clashing head-on with the other two.
...That'd be a hassle. The Namgung girl is a direct descendant of the Blue Heaven Sword King anyway. The merchant leader's no big deal.
True to her reputation as Haomen's Left Commander, famed for her cunning and survival instincts, Gal Ye-ryeong had calculated even that detail. Thanks to her, Namgung Som-in and So Ssaang-a were left glaring daggers at each other in a fierce standoff. Baek Su-gyeong wore a weary expression amid the brewing tension. The surrounding stares directed at him—sandwiched by three women—were piercingly harsh. For a man who'd aimed for a humble commoner's life until recently, it was brutal.
"Let's grab a light bite for now. Sitting here twiddling thumbs is making my mouth water."
"If Teacher says so."
"If the Bureau Leader wants it, who am I to complain..."
"Perfect timing. You're sharp-eyed, Baek Teacher."
"Luoyang's famous for its water feast cuisine, but the soups are top-notch too. Hundred Bowls Mutton Soup should be a simple snack."
"Water feast?"
Baek Su-gyeong nodded at So Ssaang-a's belated question.
"It's the ancient capital called 'Thousand-Year Luoyang,' isn't it? If you ask what's most iconic, most folks point to the water feast first."
Luoyang was notorious for its brutal winters. To combat the cold, vegetable broth dishes had evolved into a specialty, eventually reaching the imperial palace where court secrets refined them into the water feast.
Baek Su-gyeong continued. "There's a saying: Full table of mountain delicacies, all in one bowl of soup. It pops up often when talking Henan cuisine."
"The essence of a mountain of delicacies piled high is in a single bowl of broth."
"Exactly right, Lady Gal."
Gal Ye-ryeong, casually flaunting her knowledge, added, "The water feast was Empress Wu Zetian's favorite from the Wu Zhou era. Twenty-four dishes, all broth-based—that's the hallmark. Street versions trim it to twelve, though."
She fanned herself lightly with her silk fan as she spoke.
"Too heavy for a snack. Hundred Bowls Mutton Soup is lighter. But with the heat, why not something cooler than mutton broth?"
Ignoring Gal Ye-ryeong's suggestion, So Ssaang-a turned to Baek Su-gyeong. "Twenty-four broths? Won't your stomach burst, Bureau Leader?"
"The palace serves all twenty-four, but as Lady Gal said, street spots select twelve prime ones. First time hearing this, Lady So?"
"I'm a Wuan local, you know. No time to fuss over that stuff."
As Baek Su-gyeong chatted amiably with So Ssaang-a, Gal Ye-ryeong narrowed her eyes.
Daring to...!
Trying to hog Bureau Leader's attention with half-baked trivia? Think I'll let you?
They're really going at it.
Namgung Som-in seemed unbothered, sipping the cold water the server brought like a detached observer.
The more they fight, the better for me.
The three women's rivalry over Baek Su-gyeong was still in full swing.
Amid their tension, Baek Su-gyeong raised a hand to call the server. "Server!"
"Coming right up!"
"Got swallow's nest?"
The server rubbed his hands at Baek Su-gyeong's order. "Swallow's nest is always on. What'll it be?"
"Peony Swallow's Nest single, and Guest-Sending Soup. That'll do."
Swallow's nest was a water feast dish of paper-thin radish slices in broth. Named Peony Swallow's Nest for resembling peonies blooming on the table. Guest-Sending Soup was the finale, a farewell broth. Water feasts were course meals with dishes in sequence, but after eight years in the Central Plains—including over three in Luoyang—Baek Su-gyeong knew you didn't need the full spread.
"Haven't seen someone order just one water feast dish in ages. The appraiser from Yongmun used to do that often..."
"Hm?"
Baek Su-gyeong made a strange face, surprised the server remembered his old habit. He played it cool. "Someone like that, huh? Unusual."
"Sure is. Drinks separate?"
Baek Su-gyeong asked, "Any Bamboo Leaf Green?"
"Thanks to Wudang Sword Hero, Luoyang's got brewers specializing in it now. Not fully aged, but drinkable."
"That's... surprising."
It had gotten famous, sure, but this was overkill. As he ordered the Bamboo Leaf Green, Peony Swallow's Nest, and Guest-Sending Soup, cold sweat trickled down his neck watching the excited server dash off. Maybe Namgung Som-in was right—he'd underestimated Wudang Sword Hero's impact. A dedicated brewer in Henan, far from Sichuan? Unbelievable.
Gal Ye-ryeong remarked, "You seem to underrate Wudang Sword Hero more than I thought, Baek Teacher. Surprised by that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Wudang's reclaiming lost arts and regaining glory—how long will you stay so timid?"
"Can't argue there. But I never meant to write for murim sects. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing."
He took a sip of the cold water the server had brought. "I wanted a commoner's life."
"But you're entangled with murim now—far from ordinary. Yet you deny it."
"Hard to accept. I've never been a murim man."
Gal Ye-ryeong chuckled inwardly at Baek Su-gyeong's words. What a liar. A peak expert descending to the secular world for enlightenment, spouting that so casually. Truly an eccentric.
The more I see, the odder he gets...
No telling his true aim, but considering his influence on the Central Plains, Ya Noe's push for the light over shadows made sense. His first novel shook the world—what next?
To bring Haomen into the open, seducing him is the easiest way.
So Ssaang-a and Namgung Som-in shot displeased looks at her fanning herself.
Can't shake her off.
Clinging with intellectual airs—tricky foe.
"Food's here!"
As the server brought the dishes, Baek Su-gyeong turned and caught someone subtly sticking out a foot.
"Whoa!"
The server tripped over the foot, crashing down as food flew into the air.
"Hot!"
"You crazy server bastard!"
"What the hell?!"
Clattercrash. Murim-looking men, furious at soup soaking their clothes, leaped up drawing swords in an instant. The drenched server, scalded by hot broth dripping from his robes, could only face the glaring warriors.
"My expensive gear's ruined! You gonna pay, you lowly scum?!"
"My apologies! My fault! Mercy, just once!"
"No need! Cut off that bastard's head and bring it to me!" roared a youth in fine martial robes, face twisted in rage.
"As you command!"
His bodyguard-like escorts raised their blades. As the terrified server screamed—
A golden flash blazed.