You're the Bastard Who Spread Cigarettes in the Murim! (4)
Jangryong Pavilion leader Heo Do-hyeong stood before an inn that blazed with light regardless of day or night. He'd mobilized his subordinates below to investigate every detail about this place.
It was rare for the pavilion leader himself to take action, but Heo Do-hyeong wasn't the type to just sit back and delegate to his underlings. His innate curiosity had propelled him from a third-rate warrior to the head of the main sect's intelligence agency, Jangryong Pavilion. Today, too, he sought to satisfy his lingering curiosity firsthand, despite his position.
What kind of inn throws around this much money?
It was decked out in what appeared to be top-grade luminous jewels, built with iron used only for forging swords, and the floor was paved wall-to-wall with gleaming jade stones. No ordinary inn would boast such extravagance.
Was there a magnate this wealthy in the unorthodox sects? Our intel didn't mention anyone like this.
He had comprehensive data on all the merchant guild leaders from Hubei Province across the Central Plains. That was Jangryong Pavilion's specialty. Yet this inn was plastered with luxuries so exorbitant that even pooling all known guild leaders' fortunes wouldn't cover it. There was no way Jangryong Pavilion would have overlooked a tycoon of this caliber.
Puzzled, Heo Do-hyeong widened his eyes and pushed open the convenience store door. Suddenly, a scolding voice rang out.
"If you break the convenience store, you're paying for it! Why are you Murim folk so desperate to wreck inns? I told you no fighting inside!"
What was going on? A brawl between warriors? With that thought, Heo Do-hyeong peeked toward the source of the noise.
Huh? That face looks familiar.
Dark, tanned skin packed with solid muscle. Wearing rough leather garb and swinging an iron mace—a woman. It was Hwa Hyo-seon, leader of the Green Forest Seven Villages, one of Jangryong Pavilion's "Ten Later-Generation Talents to Watch."
Back when this Ghost Soul Great Forest was called the Yellow Road Great Forest, she'd been one of the most notorious bandits, plundering merchant caravans left and right. Even escorts from escort agencies struggled against her martial arts, leading to the creation of the Golden Escort Agency staffed entirely by first-rate experts on her level. Her influence had been that profound.
Lately, her activities had quieted, so Jangryong Pavilion had dropped surveillance. So why was she here? And getting chewed out by some stranger, no less.
"I did wrong! I won't do it again!"
"S-sorry."
A top unorthodox later-generation talent getting reamed like this? Who the hell was that guy? No record of him in the intel network. It had been years since she'd earned that title, so her realm was likely just entering the peak level now. And this man was scolding her like a child.
What kind of person was he? Maybe a transcendent master. Intel on unorthodox peak experts was scarce—they were notorious for staying out of sight.
At that moment, "Welcome," said Yoo Hwa-yeon, spotting Heo Do-hyeong and greeting him first.
Kim Jung-hyun jumped at the sound and glanced over. "Customer's here, so we'll talk later."
"Y-yeah...."
Hwa Hyo-seon slunk out dejectedly, and Jung-hyun switched back to innkeeper mode, smiling at the new arrival.
"Yes, what can I get for you?"
Heo Do-hyeong furrowed his brow. He looked like a perfectly ordinary innkeeper. Eyes steady and welcoming, without a hint of hesitation. The man who'd just dressed down Hwa Hyo-seon was gone.
His energy feels faint. If he's hiding it on purpose...
A peerless master with even higher martial prowess than expected. Were unorthodox peak experts really this formidable?
And he looks young—rejuvenation through returning to infancy?
A realm he'd only heard of, with no confirmed successes. If true, this was big trouble. Cold sweat trickled down Heo Do-hyeong's back.
Screw up, and I'm dead.
He'd planned to reveal himself as Jangryong Pavilion leader. But sizing up the man, he changed his mind. Announcing his Murim Alliance ties now could get his head lopped off on the spot—"Why's an Alliance dog in unorthodox turf?" Better to probe first. Confirm if he was truly a peak expert. And if so, why run an inn here?
Staring at Jung-hyun's beaming face, Heo Do-hyeong cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Uh, gimme a pack of cigarettes."
He didn't smoke, but it was the first thing that came to mind.
"What kind?"
"What's available?"
Jung-hyun swept his hand over the cigarette display, listing them off: Nezhunhui Ma, Marlboro, Parliament, Esse, and more. The grandiose names flowed into Heo Do-hyeong's ears, and he thought,
How profound must one's enlightenment in martial arts be to infuse such deep meaning into cigarette names!
You're the bastard who spread cigarettes in the Murim world!
His eyes sparkled. "Esse for me."
"Four silver taels and fifty copper coins, sir."
Ridiculously cheap compared to pipe tobacco. Selling premium smokes at a steal to hook people—clever!
After buying, Heo Do-hyeong stepped outside with Jung-hyun and awkwardly fished out a slim cigarette from the pack.
How do you even use this?
"Need a hand?"
Heo Do-hyeong nodded at the friendly offer.
"Put the filter end in your mouth and light it up."
As Heo Do-hyeong clamped it between his lips, Jung-hyun flicked the lighter.
Whoosh!!
Heo Do-hyeong's pupils dilated like he'd seen a ghost.
No way! S-Samādhi True Fire?
To his unknowing eyes, a tiny flame erupted from an empty hand. Heo Do-hyeong's instincts screamed.
I'm done for! Flaunting Samādhi True Fire like that—definitely a master among masters!
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Getting hot, sir? It's autumn..."
"N-no! F-fine!"
Was his tension too obvious? Should he play it cool after that display? His mind reeled. Pretend to know, and it'd go straight to "Why's an Alliance spy in unorthodox lands?" Play dumb, and it'd be a tense standoff. No way to read the man's thoughts—that only heightened the pressure.
Play dumb for now.
"S-so, what is this cigarette? Looks so strange. Haha..."
"It's a cigarette—what else?"
"R-right, yeah."
As expected. Living so long and achieving rejuvenation had honed his subtlety. Dodging with the obvious "it's a cigarette." Humiliating for Jangryong Pavilion's leader, but self-preservation came first.
"I-I saw so many people smoking them, so I got curious."
"Haha, lucky me—enough customers to get by."
This guy? Denying he spread them. Dodging responsibility like a true master!
As Heo Do-hyeong just stared at the lit cigarette, Jung-hyun asked, "Why aren't you smoking?"
He flinched, glancing warily. Not smoking now might blow his cover. Gritting his teeth, he put it to his lips and inhaled like he'd seen other warriors do.
"Koff! Kek! *Cough*! *Cough*!"
Harsh smoke scorched his throat, unleashing suppressed coughs like a flood. It burned.
"What, first time with cigarettes?"
Damn, too obvious!
"N-no! Just used to pipes—switching suddenly takes getting used to."
"Ah, don't push yourself."
Push what? Stop digging for info? His clothes soaked with sweat. Everything was seen through. The man knew why he was here. Heo Do-hyeong's face paled—this was a kill-on-sight scenario.
"A-heh, not used to non-pipes. Guess I'll stick to pipes. Haha..."
Will this excuse fly?
He squeezed his eyes shut. "Oh, really? Can't refund it, though."
"C-can I go now?"
"...If nothing else, sure."
Alive. Buddha, thank you.
Heo Do-hyeong sighed inwardly in relief. Felt fifty years older.
"Th-thanks."
"No need..."
"Th-then I'll be off."
"Take care."
He turned and walked, unable to use lightness skill. Any big move, and a blade would be at his throat. Clutching his trembling legs, he barely escaped the Ghost Soul Great Forest.
Meanwhile, watching him go, Jung-hyun just thought, Is he sick or something?
Back at Jangryong Pavilion, Heo Do-hyeong finally relaxed his tense body, lying down.
"T-ten... no, a hundred years shaved off my life."
His pounding heart still echoed in his ears. Spotting their sweat-soaked, drowned-rat leader, a subordinate asked, "Pavilion leader? What happened?"
It was the warrior He'd chewed out before. Heo Do-hyeong asked, "That cigarette from before—you didn't buy it yourself?"
"No, someone gave it to me."
"Who?"
"Some white-haired old man. Don't know his name. Sorry—reached for something shady despite being Jangryong Pavilion."
Heo Do-hyeong barely heard the confession.
"This isn't something we can handle alone."
"Pardon?"
"We'll close the case here. I'll write the report to the Murim Alliance—you all head home first."
"Y-yes..."
The subordinate tilted his head but packed up and left without fuss.
That day, a dusty old tome in Jangryong Pavilion's library was opened after ages.
Unorthodox Peak Experts Requiring Caution: Nine (9) Figures