Temporary Alliance, United Front! (6)
Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon rushed over with quick steps and spotted the warriors spread out in front of the convenience store. The bandits were blocking the warriors who'd arrived with the carriage, but the carriage door itself stood wide open.
"What the hell are you guys?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon growled as she approached the warriors. They were familiar faces—the ones who'd captured Baek Jin-yong before but ended up returning him. Warriors from Manokru.
"Who the heck are these clowns?"
Hwa Hyo-seon asked, and Yoo Hwa-yeon replied.
"Manokru guys."
"Manokru? The famous brothel in Hubei Province? What the hell are they doing here?"
The lead Manokru warrior, Hyeok, spoke with an expressionless face.
"The Madam has gone inside."
"What for this time? Didn't she pay off her debt last time?"
Yoo Hwa-yeon asked, still wary, and only then did Hyeok's gaze shift toward her.
"Is it a problem if she comes as a customer? Does this inn discriminate against guests?"
"Inns don't discriminate, but people can judge other people. You guys were clearly turned away properly last time. Doesn't your Madam have any pride? If it were me, I'd be too embarrassed to show my face again."
Hyeok's left eyebrow twitched upward. He looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Doesn't living in constant suspicion like that just wear you out? The Madam doesn't tell me everything she does, but she's not the type to come all this way just to cling to some worthless man."
Worthless man. At those words, a furrow formed between Yoo Hwa-yeon's brows.
"The worthless one is your Madam. A courtesan who never lacks for men."
"Watch your mouth."
"Who started it?"
"No need to even talk to a woman like you."
"What's your purpose?"
"I told you I don't know."
"Fine. I'll go in and ask myself."
Yoo Hwa-yeon strode into the convenience store. Hwa Hyo-seon, who'd been watching from the side, shot Hyeok a glare before following her in.
"Hee-hee! Really? You have a real knack for business."
Inside, a cheerful atmosphere prevailed. Cheon Hyang, who'd come to see Jeong-hyun, was giggling, and Jeong-hyun wore a faint smile.
Spotting Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon entering together, Jeong-hyun greeted them.
"Where'd you two run off to? Just got back?"
"What the—?!"
Yoo Hwa-yeon immediately stepped between Jeong-hyun and Cheon Hyang. Hwa Hyo-seon eyed Cheon Hyang too. A beauty so stunning she could be called a nation-toppling seductress. Praises for the Manokru Madam's looks never ceased across the Central Plains, so it was no wonder even Hwa Hyo-seon, who'd lived her life in the mountains, knew of her. And here she was, twisting her body seductively while chatting with the store owner. That meant this wasn't just a simple business visit.
Hwa Hyo-seon joined Yoo Hwa-yeon in blocking their path.
"Oh my, another new face has joined us."
"Ah, yeah. Leader of the Green Forest Seven Villages. It just kinda happened. Haha."
"Seven Villages Leader! I've heard the infamous name. A brutally wicked bandit."
Hwa Hyo-seon frowned. Yeah, she was a wicked bandit, but it wasn't something to brag about. And that scanning gaze from head to toe? The woman was already too pretty for comfort, and now those shady eyes made it even worse.
"What brings the greatManokru Madam to this humble dump?"
Cheon Hyang arched her left eyebrow slightly. Mockery laced her tone. Woman's intuition. Yoo Hwa-yeon was always glued to his side, so she'd never liked her anyway. But what was this tanned, rude woman? Did she have her eye on the innkeeper too?
Cheon Hyang glanced at Jeong-hyun. That utterly clueless expression. What a dense guy. Which only made him more appealing.
"Could you step aside? I have private business with the innkeeper."
"Say it here."
"Yeah! Spill it right here!"
Cheon Hyang shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, what can I do if you two insist? Business talks are best head-to-head, right? Isn't that so, innkeeper?"
Cheon Hyang peered at Jeong-hyun over their shoulders as she spoke.
"W-Well, yeah..."
Jeong-hyun started to reply but shut his mouth under the axe-like glares from Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon.
What the hell? Why's the vibe like this?
Yoo Hwa-yeon sneered.
"We're just so worried about what might happen. Who knows if some sleazy, shady woman might wreck the place? We have to guard it."
"Damn right. We're protecting the boss."
"Oh? Bodyguards, is it?"
Cheon Hyang pointed toward the convenience store entrance with her finger.
"Did you see on your way in? My bodyguards are waiting very nicely outside. Your spots are right there."
At that, Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon both snapped.
"What?!"
"That's telling you to know your place. What kind of bodyguard can't tell where to butt in and where not to? Just hyperactive brats. Usually, those kinds of guards drag their master into danger."
Yoo Hwa-yeon ground her molars. Her left hand gripped the sword sheath so tightly it trembled, but she couldn't draw it. The store might get wrecked.
Meanwhile, Hwa Hyo-seon stared at Cheon Hyang with a look that screamed, what kind of bitch is this? She didn't know the woman's goal, but damn, she rubbed her the wrong way. Looked like she had some big ambitions too. Men went crazy for that type, huh? Hwa Hyo-seon had thought she had the edge until now, but not anymore. A real rival had appeared.
Slinging her iron mace over her shoulder, Hwa Hyo-seon said,
"Wanna find out who drags who into danger? You think standing outside means you can protect jack shit? What if I beat all your guys down—planning to beg for mercy then?"
"Well, the Seven Villages Leader's infamy is well-known, but my bodyguards aren't pushovers either."
"You only know after comparing long and short."
"Bragging brute strength like an illiterate. Is that all you've got?"
Cheon Hyang scanned Hwa Hyo-seon up and down. You dare? Pfft! The phantom scoff echoed in Hwa Hyo-seon's ears, making her flush and bite her lower lip.
Then Yoo Hwa-yeon jumped in to defend her.
"Better not underestimate her. She's ridiculously strong despite appearances. Wonder what happens to aunty if I kill all your guys outside?"
A-aunty?
Cheon Hyang furrowed her brow for the first time. Aunty? She was only thirty-two. She'd already been bummed about her slightly sagging skin that morning, and now this? She was pissed.
"Hee-hee! A green kid whose blood hasn't even dried yet yapping away. Come back when you're more grown up? Or is that it?"
Her eyes narrowing venomously, Cheon Hyang glanced down at Yoo Hwa-yeon's chest. Realizing the gaze, Yoo Hwa-yeon flushed red.
This bitch or that one! Why're they all messing with my chest?!
Then,
"Hey, isn't that pretty well-grown? Can't compare to some abnormally sagging disaster. Right?"
Hwa Hyo-seon backing up Yoo Hwa-yeon. Yoo Hwa-yeon turned to her. Hwa Hyo-seon turned back. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, they felt a deep bond.
We're allies for now, sis.
Yeah, allies, big sis.
The two women's temporary alliance. Orthodox and unorthodox sects, always at each other's throats, uniting against the Demonic Cult dreaming of dominating the martial world! From their perspective, Cheon Hyang was the Cult Leader herself.
"S-Sagging chest?! How can you be so reckless!"
"The wrinkles makeup can't hide are crystal clear to me."
"Hmph! You two need some skincare. Your skin looks like sand rolled on the Yangtze riverbed! And Seven Villages Leader, what's with all those freckles...? Want me to teach you?"
"F-Freckles...? Not sure I wanna take advice from someone with oil rivers following her wrinkles?!"
"Oh dear. You need actual skincare experience to even converse. Living your whole life ugly... Melting silver ore and pounding it won't make gold."
"Old hag!"
"Flat chest!"
"Grandma!"
"Freckle-face!"
"Wrinkle witch!"
"Brat!"
Huff, huff. Everyone caught their breath.
"What the hell are you doing? Stop..."
As Jeong-hyun approached to break it up, the three women whipped around with axe glares.
"Shut it!!"
"Yessir."
Their catfight raged on until dusk.
What the hell was all that? The fight ended only when it was time to close the store, with no clear winner. These women didn't even seem to have sore throats as they kept chattering away. It sounded like insults, but so sly and subtle that an outsider might think they were complimenting each other. Smiling backhanded digs.
I sat at the plastic table, watching them show no signs of fatigue. The fight didn't end because someone won—it was due to one tiny, trivial remark.
"Madam. You've left Manokru empty for too long."
Cheon Hyang's bodyguard boldly charged into the battlefield, and only then did she snap out of it, chin held high.
"Fascinating stories. My brilliant mind couldn't grasp such lowbrow chatter, but hey, experience is experience."
Stubborn to the end. Man, why am I so tired? I didn't even do much today—should sleep like a baby.
Cheon Hyang strode toward me.
"We've taken up too much time. Sorry about that."
"Huh? Oh, no, it's fine."
"I..."
Cheon Hyang twisted in front of me, hemming and hawing. Her face flushed, looking embarrassed—like she wanted to say something, but I couldn't guess what.
"...Never mind."
"Pardon?"
"I'm... not like that."
Like what?
"What do you mean?"
"Men. I've never held one."
Eyes averted shyly, she said something incomprehensible. Ah, worried I misunderstood her as a courtesan? If not, just say so.
"Got it."
"Huh?"
"Yeeep."
"Got what?"
"I believe you. If not, then not."
Cheon Hyang stared blankly for a moment, then reverted to her poised, confident face—with a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"Sorry I'm late, but the reason I came today is to propose a partnership."
"Partnership?"
"As the innkeeper knows, tiny cigarettes are all the rage in Hubei right now. They fix the flaws of pipe tobacco while keeping the perks. Of course! Cigarettes aren't healthy, so I can't say they're purely good."
True. Ever since that old man visited, tons of people had come hunting for smokes. Cigarettes aren't great for you, but I couldn't grab someone wanting one and yell "Absolutely not!" They're a luxury good, after all. I'd never sold to minors, so I was in the clear. Not sure if "minor" even exists in the martial world, though.
Cheon Hyang continued.
"I'd like to buy some in bulk. Pay upfront. Profitable for you too, innkeeper. Manokru is famous beyond Hubei in the Central Plains, drawing crowds. If you're not limiting to Hubei, spreading the word through us benefits you, right?"
I nodded. Solid proposal. Just one old man's word-of-mouth drew crowds. Supplying Manokru would be even better marketing.
But convenience store cigarettes? Modern margins are like 300 won. Tobacco companies supply them, and after taxes and cuts, they take most profits. Splitting with Manokru would halve mine.
This is Murim, though. No tobacco companies, no taxes. So where do these cigarettes come from? No taxes, yet same margins? Gotta clear that up before deciding.
"Thanks for the offer. Can I have a few days to think?"
"Hm, cautious one."
"Better for both sides."
"Fair enough."
Margins are business basics. If I can't get them at cost, no deal.
"Got it. I'll trust you and wait."
Cheon Hyang turned. As she walked gracefully, sharp glares from Yoo Hwa-yeon and Hwa Hyo-seon stabbed at every step.
"See you next time."
She looked at them and said, then,
"Jeong-hyun."
She called my name.
"That bitch!"
"Daring to call the Grand Master's name, which even I haven't?!"
Cheon Hyang waved without turning as she boarded the carriage. Haha. Why're you glaring at me?
"Like it? Hearing 'Grand Master' turns you on?"
"Y-Yeah! Looks real pleased! Men can't resist, huh? What's so great about that old hag?!"
I never said I liked it...
POS screen bursts with bright light!
"Ah, haha! G-Gotta work now. Time to close. Hwa-yeon, set up the bedding in the night-duty room."
Phew. Thanks, POS. You're my savior. My benefactor!
I dashed to the POS. Wonder what message came this time?