Green Forest Seven Villages Leader Hwa Hyo-seon (5)
Green Forest Seven Villages leader Hwa Hyo-seon had her eyes closed, circulating her inner energy. Kneeling before her with both hands raised high above his head was Gu Ja-jin.
"P-please, V-Village... Leader..."
"You'll die?"
"Yes."
In front of Gu Ja-jin's knees lay a pile of shattered fluorescent light bulbs. Upon closer inspection, they weren't some night-luminescent pearl or anything like that.
That damn store owner bastard. How dare he trick me?
Gu Ja-jin ground his teeth inwardly, but there was nothing he could do.
Soon, a foul-smelling haze rose around Hwa Hyo-seon's body, dispersing into the wind—and only then did the drunken flush vanish completely from her face. She'd used her inner energy to force the alcohol poison out of her system.
Though weaker than the bandits, Gu Ja-jin was still a full member of the Seven Villages. And among those dim-witted bandits, he was by far the smartest, which was why he'd been given the role of strategist. Yet he'd been completely duped? As village leader, she couldn't just let that slide.
If she backed off now, word would spread that the Green Forest Seven Villages were no better than mangy stray dogs.
Her long eyelashes fluttered, and Hwa Hyo-seon's eyes opened.
"Ja-jin."
"Y-yes, Village Leader!"
"This won't do. If we leave it like this, the great Green Forest Seven Villages' reputation will hit rock bottom. I'll handle it myself."
Finally. Was the village leader stepping in personally?
She was the one who'd beaten down bandits twice her size to claim the leader's seat. The iron mace she wielded could split the Yangtze River and shake the earth itself without exaggeration. And her footwork? Ghostly and elusive. Illusory Phantom Shift. No one who'd seen her mace swing was still alive.
For such a leader to move personally! Gu Ja-jin was overwhelmed with emotion.
"Lead the way."
Hwa Hyo-seon slowly rose, slamming her massive iron mace into the ground. He'd hoped for some cool line, but instead...
"To where the new strategist is."
"...Pardon?"
Tanned skin. Hair tied back in a single ponytail. Her arms bore muscles firmer than most men's from relentless training, but...
A sharp jawline. Bright, lively eyes framed by long lashes. Glossy bronze skin. And those massive hills that seemed like they'd get in the way of any martial arts.
No denying it—she exuded a captivating allure, and she was standing right in front of me now, introducing herself as Green Forest Seven Villages leader Hwa Hyo-seon.
"Kyahaha! You think you beat my strategist, you little punk?"
No other bandits with her. Just Gu Ja-jin in tow. Was she not planning to intimidate? Or could she handle it solo?
"You sure look loaded with cash!"
"Why are you here? I already gave you everything."
I'd offered good stuff, but the trash he'd taken was courtesy of that strategist guy behind her.
"That was supposed to be a night-luminescent pearl? Total worthless junk!"
"I never said it was a night-luminescent pearl. I just gave it to him because he asked."
That set Gu Ja-jin off.
"You wench!! How dare you, some lowly merchant! Not content with scamming, now you spout such nonsense!!"
He hid behind Hwa Hyo-seon, yelling his lungs out. Scary, huh? She raised a hand to silence him.
"You've got some guts. Scamming right in front of a bandit?"
My eyes naturally drifted to the iron mace slung over her shoulder.
Whoa, that's huge. Could she really swing that thing solo?
Her pretty face just didn't match the image of her wielding that monster. And if she swung that around... my convenience store...
Ah. Don't even think about it.
I swallowed hard, tense, and asked, "It wasn't a scam. I gave you everything you asked for."
"A few scraps of cloth, and you turned bandits into customers for massive profits—and that's 'everything'? You weren't planning to take it all?"
Her gaze locked with mine in midair. Smarter than her strategist. As expected of the village leader?
I'd figured she was all brawn, no brains, but nope.
She was right—I had profited big. Depending on how she saw it, I could lose everything.
I secretly signaled Yoo Hwa-yeon: Don't worry about the store getting wrecked—just get her out somehow. Cheaper than losing it all.
That's when she burst out, "Kyahaha! Think you can win?"
A chill ran down my spine. I'd signaled under the counter, out of sight. How'd she know?
"Foolish. I'm not one to dodge a fight if it's thrown at me."
Thrown at me?! You're the one who came here!
"But I didn't come to fight today."
What?
I stared at her, puzzled. Arms crossed, she declared proudly,
"You! Be my strategist!"
"......"
"......"
What the hell? She shows up out of nowhere with this nonsense?
"You beat our strategist, so you're the new one! How's that? Strategist of the great Green Forest Seven Villages. If you join us, we'll escape poverty forever..."
"No thanks."
I cut her off. Gu Ja-jin's face flushed red.
"You bastard! How dare you interrupt sis—"
"Ja-jin. Shut it."
"Yes, sis."
Hwa Hyo-seon stared at me, expression slightly stiff.
"No?"
"Y-yeah, no."
"Why?"
"Why? Would you wanna work at my inn if I asked? Everyone's got their own thing."
"Sounds good."
Huh? What's good?
"...Huh?"
"Working at an inn. I like it."
"You're... bandits, though?"
"This whole mountain's ours. Anywhere we are is the Green Forest Seven Villages. And having an inn? Not bad. None of my guys have any handiwork skills. Their cooking's dog food at best. Owning an inn wouldn't be a loss in that regard."
I was stunned. Who could've predicted this twist?
"Not a bad deal for you either, right, boss? My crew stations here, no threats to your inn. I get a strategist, you get protection. Win-win, yeah?"
True, as customers increased, more sword-bearing types showed up. Still limited to Hubei Province for now, but some were already itching for fights. Yoo Hwa-yeon handled them, but if rumors spread to Shaanxi, Hebei, Sichuan, or the Central Plains... even her skills would hit a limit.
For that, allying with bandits...
No. Hell no.
I shook my head. Sigh. Partner with pros at taking stuff? Future looked bleak.
Customers eyed greedily, threatened for cash, guzzling booze and making noise—foot traffic dries up. Shaanxi? Hebei? Sichuan? Central Plains? Dream on. With those vicious-faced bandits, even Hubei would crumble, straight to ruin.
Next thing, I'd be in tanned leathers yelling, "Kahaha! Hand it over if you wanna live!!"
I shook my head to clear it. No way I'd let that future happen.
To expand the store with profits and survive this Murim world, no bandit alliances.
But did I have another plan for this mess? Nope.
The black-haired, tanned delinquent sis was glaring like she'd smash the place any second. Gu Ja-jin behind her... ignore. Yoo Hwa-yeon, no confidence left, cowering.
Checkmate.
So I started brainstorming fast. Come on, Jung-hyun. You hustled against school bullies for pocket money. 'Jung-hyun's Market' was famous even with the other school's toughs—high school cash king, remember? You got this. No sweat.
Give flesh to take bone. That's it.
Brain in overdrive, then—Aha! Perfect idea.
Basically, just not pure bandits. Marketing's all about concepts. Modern hits: witch/Halloween diners, Japanese-themed spots, sassy granny joints, maid cafes, butler cafes.
Murim version? Uniformed "bandits" serving, turning scary faces into a gimmick. Lure folks scared off from Ghost Soul Great Forest.
Bandit-free streets vs. inn full of bandit-like staff! Heart pounding at the thought.
Modern life buried it under reality; here, I could flaunt it.
"But we gotta set terms."
"What? Spit it out."
"This inn's mine. Can't just give cash. Earn it working."
Bandits working? Hwa Hyo-seon blinked her big eyes.
"In return, you'll build wealth like never before. Guaranteed. No more wild greens—meat every meal."
If it works.
She tilted her head back, displeased, looking down at me.
"So, no bandit life—work instead?"
"Exactly."
Would Hwa Hyo-seon accept? Her, who'd lived as a bandit forever? It was like demanding she ditch her identity.
Maybe swing that mace, calling it bullshit.
But for survival now, no other way. I swallowed hard.
Then, Hwa Hyo-seon's lips began to move.