Rip-Off
"Phew, that hit the spot."
Namgoong Juhee patted her now plump belly.
Damn right it did. We blew a whole day's travel budget just on food. I must be crazy—got so caught up in the sword talk I couldn't stop the young lady. Sihoon watched her and thought.
"Glad to hear you enjoyed it, young lady."
"You should eat too, Mugakju. Aren't you hungry?"
"...I'm fine. No money."
"Pardon?"
"Ah, nothing. Anyway, you can't let your guard down just because you taught those Hwangbo bastards a lesson. Our goal is still smashing the water bandits, after all."
Sihoon changed the subject. It was sound advice, too.
Sihoon had revised his plans after witnessing Juhee's prowess earlier.
Originally, he'd intended to build her experience and pull out. But now? Why bother?
No need to waste a monster like her. The setup was perfect for a real clash with the Hwangbo forces.
And the core of that strategy was Namgoong Juhee. So it was only natural to want her as firepower for the bandit hunt, too.
"Ah... right. Leave the trash mobs to me."
"I don't know what 'trash mobs' are, but I trust you."
"So, we heading out to bag some bandits right now? I heard night raids are basic strategy."
"Hm."
Sihoon was impressed inwardly. Juhee usually came off as a bit scatterbrained, but every now and then she'd nail the key point like this. This must be her true self, he thought, calculating the odds of a successful ambush.
A night raid was definitely a solid option. The bandits would've just heard that Namgoong and Hwangbo had arrived in Wuhu. They'd only be starting to bolster defenses now—meaning they weren't ready. Striking then would yield great results.
But the issue was Namgoong Juhee's stamina. They'd already marched for four hours, and she'd sparred twice against peak experts. Even for an ordinary peak master, that was grueling—and Juhee's endurance wasn't her strong suit. She could push through if needed, but no point overdoing it.
With that in mind, Sihoon spoke up.
"We should call it here for today. The troops need rest, too."
"Sounds good. So what's the plan for tonight?"
"We need lodgings. Something cheap like Chilju-ya should do."
"Lodgings, huh. Want me to handle it?"
"You, young lady?"
"I'm bored. Hate being bored."
"Hmm..."
Sihoon pondered.
Scouting local rates on foot was crucial. Haggling with innkeeps was experience you couldn't buy. Sure, she'd get ripped off a bit, but that's how you learned.
Still, was it too much for the young lady in one day? Even if she'd acted like an ironclad warrior, she was still a nineteen-year-old girl. What if some sleazy innkeep upset her during the bargaining? What a pointless worry.
"Well... young lady, that's a commendable idea. But won't it be tiring?"
"Nah. Just walk off the meal."
"Then take this money pouch. Find us a place within budget."
Sihoon pulled the pouch from his robes and handed it to Namgoong Juhee. Like leaving a cat in charge of the fish market.
"We'll wait at the village square."
"Got it. I'll snag us a place. Fourteen people, right?"
"Yes. Oh, young lady—if the innkeep gives you trouble, come straight to us. Understood?"
Sihoon had no illusions about beans sprouting from his eyes. An innkeep harassing Juhee? Absurd. More likely the other way around.
Juhee just grinned at his words. The booze was warming her nicely.
It wouldn't last long.
.
"Chaju! The Hwangbo clan has arrived in Wuhu!"
"Their peaks include Ganggwon, Little Fist King, and Hwangbo Yeonhwa."
"Namgoong clan has joined in Wuhu, too. Led by Danak Sword and the Heavenly Sky Troops."
"Hm. That's all?"
The man with an eyepatch over one eye and a hook for a hand cackled. The picture of a pirate. If Namgoong Juhee had seen him, she'd probably have blurted, Whoa, Captain Hook!
"Um... that's three peaks, Chaju. Aren't you worried?"
"Kekeke, if they've got three peaks, we've got four. Didn't the Total Chaju send us plenty this time?"
Chaju meant branch leader of the river bandits, and Total Chaju was their overlord. Like a regional director and the CEO.
The Total Chaju had gone all-in to claim Wuhu, sending two peaks and piles of cash. No wonder the Chaju was brimming with confidence.
"And we even hired a master from Maegeomdan."
"Maegeomdan?"
"Yeah, the sword-sellers. Whirlwind Ghost should keep Danak Sword and Ganggwon in check."
"Whirlwind Ghost!" "Tenth Elder!" "Heart Star Hand!"
Gasps erupted here and there at the name. It was murim etiquette—when a famous name dropped, you tossed out their titles in respect.
And it was genuinely shocking. Maegeomdan was one of the five great unorthodox organizations. Whirlwind Ghost ranked tenth among them—a true heavyweight.
"Now we outnumber and outclass their peaks."
"Your brilliant calculations never cease to amaze, Chaju."
"Kekeke, damn right. The big invasion will hit after Chilju-ya. Prep thoroughly till then. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. Good. Anything else noteworthy?"
One of the bandit underlings hesitated, then piped up as if remembering something.
"Ah, might be just a rumor."
"Spit it out."
"Heard there was a scuffle between Hwangbo and Namgoong today."
"Scuffle? Anyone die?"
"No, but it's such nonsense."
Curious now, the Chaju motioned for details. The three underlings chimed in.
"Well, they say a young Namgoong expert took down Hwangbo Yeonhwa and Ganggwon at once."
"Oh, that! I heard too. Wore a mask, right?"
"I heard it was some wench."
"Kekeke. I send you for intel, and you bring me bullshit."
The Chaju waved them off like it was nonsense.
"If Namgoong had a young expert like that, they'd have bounced back ages ago. Why hide her?"
"You're right, Chaju."
"I'm in a good mood, so I'll let it slide. Keep gathering info in the village."
The three vanished in a flash. Alone in his quarters, the Chaju still chuckled to himself.
A young Namgoong swordswoman? Total bullshit.
.
Juhee reflected on the day as the booze faded.
Not a bad one. Saw a tiger, read the Emperor Sword Form manual, beat up some NPCs. Fun times.
Too rushed to test the forms, though. Maybe tomorrow while hunting bandits. With that thought, Namgoong Juhee pulled out the money pouch.
"Let's see how much he gave me."
Three nyang of silver inside. Accounting for rip-offs, enough for fourteen to crash at an inn for a week. Roughly 900,000 won, give or take.
She glanced around. Army life taught you how to snag cheap digs—and dodge scams. Find the shabbiest joint.
They started cheap, so even overcharged, it wasn't bad. A poor soldier's trick.
"There we go. Perfect."
Juhee's eyes locked on a crumbling inn on its last legs. Eaves that'd collapse in rain. The "Cheongpung Inn" sign half-rotted. Baby rats scurrying openly on the floor.
Prime for checking rates. Fair price? Stay there. Who cared about luxury for a crash pad.
Namgoong Juhee plotted her approach. This game twisted NPC behavior based on your words and actions—like classic gagames. How she handled the innkeep would set the price.
"Gotta brace for some rip-off."
No interest in brawling weak NPCs. Rip-offs were just the era's norm for outsiders. Better to bathe, relax, and save the hassle over pennies.
"Welcome!"
A pudgy man waddled out. Innkeep or escaped kitchen pig? Hard to tell.
"Welcome!"
Ah, innkeep. Namgoong Juhee quietly pocketed her hand.
"Hello."
"Well, hello there, pretty miss. Meal? Room? Anything—I'll take good care of ya, hehe."
"Need a room. Seven days, fourteen people. Rooms... uh..."
Namgoong Juhee paused. How many rooms for twelve? Wait, fourteen.
Her mind drifted to army barracks: a dozen guys crammed in a shoebox. Two rooms should do. Forgetting her own gender, naturally.
"Two rooms. That work?"
"Seven days, fourteen people, two rooms... meals too?"
"Yeah, why not."
"Meals included... Right. That'll be..."
Two rooms plus food. With Mugakju's budget and the dump's quality, one nyang and change max. Even heavy rip-off, two nyang tops—she'd pay.
So Juhee figured, eyeing him. He squinted like calculating, then smacked fist into palm.
"Yes! Ten nyang of silver. Special discount for a beauty like you. Heh, of course."
Well, well, you little shit. Namgoong Juhee's eyes gleamed ominously.