Hubei Express (4)
"A professional... delivery service?"
Something like that existed? I knew about merchant guilds and escort agencies, but a specialized delivery company? This was the first I'd heard of it. Did they have something like the Delivery People of Korea here too?
"It's not well-known yet, but a few days ago, a man came by introducing himself as the head of Hubei Express. At first, I politely turned him away since I didn't see much business potential, but seeing Jeonghyeon, it feels like it might be a good fit after all."
"Express delivery?"
"You know how merchant guilds usually have their own carriages, right?"
"Yes."
"They have goods, carriages to load them on, and escort agencies to protect them from threats. That's why guilds and escorts often team up. But express delivery is different."
Cheon Hyang refilled my teacup with black tea as she continued.
"An express service acts like both a guild and an escort, but they don't source goods themselves. They specialize solely in transporting via their own carriages. That makes it tricky to contract with guilds directly, so they often pose as escorts. But a few days ago, this guy shows up and says they can deliver Manokru's goods anywhere in the Central Plains."
Cheon Hyang offered me the tea, and I took a slow sip. The deep flavor of the black tea was exquisite.
In short, it was a courier service. They had carriages and warriors to protect them, but no goods of their own. So they'd come to Manokru proposing business to get something to deliver.
"We don't need to ship goods across the Central Plains since people already flock here in droves. We have plenty of other ventures too. But hearing about Jeonghyeon today, it seems like you'd need it more than we do. What do you think? Shall I make the introduction?"
This was a golden opportunity. Horses were expensive. Carriages were expensive. Hiring first-rate or peak-level martial artists was expensive too. Sure, the Demonic Cult had placed an order now, but I couldn't buy horses, carriages, and men just for that. Unless my convenience store became the most famous inn in the Central Plains someday, drawing delivery requests from everywhere—but until then, staffing up would cost a fortune.
For one-off shipments like this, handing it off to an express service would be way cheaper.
I set my teacup down gently and nodded.
"Yes!"
"Hee-hee. Wait there, and I'll send word soon."
*
The next day arrived. I opened the POS machine to check different mask types. Typing "mask" into the search bar brought up a flood of products.
KF94s, but nothing more comfortable? I needed to check sizes too.
Scrolling down, I spotted masks for a different purpose.
Essential for beauty. Aloe extract sheet masks that leave dry skin soft and hydrated. Centella extract masks for baby-smooth skin regeneration on damaged complexions. Whitening and anti-wrinkle one-shot masks that make an eighty-year-old look eight.
And below them, rows of functional cosmetics galore.
Just looking made my head hurt. So I ordered a few at random. They'd come in handy eventually.
Whoosh—
As the sheet masks stacked neatly, a few separated out. Curious, I picked them up. They were labeled [Test].
Free samples? But why so many?
One for me and Yoo Hwa-yeon. One for Hwa Hyo-seon. Oh, and grab one for Cheon Hyang too.
Even after grabbing for everyone I could think of, five samples remained.
What to do with these? I didn't need that many.
Hmm.
"I bought a thousand masks, so tossing in a few freebies should be fine."
I chucked the remaining five samples onto the stack of a thousand masks.
They were just freebies—I wasn't expecting much from them anyway. Sheet masks don't show instant results. And Murim folk didn't seem into makeup.
Right then—
Ding-a-ling—
"Welco...."
Hyuk, Cheon Hyang's guard, walked in.
"...The madam calls for you."
He spat it out curtly and vanished.
I took off my convenience store vest and changed into the clothes Cheon Hyang had given me.
"I'm off!"
***
When Jeonghyeon arrived, Cheon Hyang led him to a spacious room. Inside sat a youngish man who jumped to his feet at the sight of Jeonghyeon.
"This is Jeonghyeon, the innkeeper. And this is Ja Ryong-o, head of Hubei Express."
Cheon Hyang made the introductions, and Ja Ryong-o flashed a friendly smile, offering Jeonghyeon an arch hand salute.
"I hear you run a peculiar inn. They say the ramen is divine—I'd love to try some!"
"Ah, come by next time, and I'll treat you."
"Haha, have a seat."
Jeonghyeon and Ryong-o sat across from each other. Cheon Hyang took a seat diagonally from them and poured drinks into their cups.
Ryong-o raised his glass first.
"To commemorate our meeting, I propose a toast."
Jeonghyeon clinked glasses. Ripples spread across the still liquor surface.
He downed it in one go, and it burned his throat. Why's it so strong? But he couldn't grimace. This was the start of a deal. Couldn't look weak. This wasn't the modern world—it was Murim.
Word had it that in China, big deals got sealed casually over meals. So he had to stay sharp, not get swept up.
I can outdrink this unarmed merchant—no problem!
Jeonghyeon closed his eyes as if savoring it, letting a faint smile play on his lips.
"Great liquor."
"Haha, right? I requested it myself."
"You know your way of liquor. Now this is how it should be."
"Whoa, you get it!"
Another round was poured. And with it, the real talk hit the table.
"You're shipping some masks this time, right? Thrilled Hubei Express gets to join your first big deal. It's like we're selling the goods together! Right?"
Ja Ryong-o leaned way forward, face inches from Jeonghyeon's, grinning excitedly.
Jeonghyeon thought: 'Together? He wants half?'
Selling together. Same as demanding half the shares—what's the difference?
Ja Ryong-o leaned back, arms crossed. A silent declaration: nothing less than half.
Jeonghyeon met his gaze with a serene smile.
'This psycho? One ingot plus twenty-five silver taels? Without a sword, he's just a bandit—what the hell?'
No way. Jeonghyeon flashed his brightest, friendliest grin.
"Of course! Thrilled to take this historic first step with Hubei Express. I'll pay generously based on distance."
Ja Ryong-o thought: 'This guy? Just distance fees? What about warrior meals and carriage tolls? He won't cover?'
His eyebrows twitched, but as a veteran, he kept smiling.
"Haha, even adding distance fees—I'm touched."
'Bastard? Won't budge on half? Three thousand won for delivery, and he thinks extra distance makes it generous?'
'This punk won't give half? Protecting goods and money, and half's too much?'
Their hands trembled on their glasses. Yet the smiles held.
To an outsider, they'd look like long-lost pals.
'Fine, let's see if you sign after we get smashed.'
'Gonna get him drunk and stamp that seal. Half? Dream on, thief spawn.'
Still beaming, they clinked glasses. The fiery baijiu scorched down, reminding them exactly where their throats and intestines were.
"For some reason, I like you, innkeeper. Wanna be close pals? We click."
Ja Ryong-o poured again.
"Yeah, feels like reuniting with a childhood buddy."
Jeonghyeon accepted the pour.
"Wanna just be friends?"
Ja Ryong-o played buddy-buddy. "Sure, why not."
Jeonghyeon agreed cheerfully. But inwardly: 'Friends my ass.'
'Acting chummy? How much you gonna fleece me for?'
Mutual benefit? Same bed, different dreams. Amid forced smiles, the jovial vibe dragged on.
Pour, drink. Pour, drink.
About half a shichen later, Ja Ryong-o barely pried open his drooping eyes. He was dying.
'Th-this guy? Thought it was bluff!'
His eyes smiled, but inside, he glared triangularly at Jeonghyeon.
'Can't underestimate him.'
"Haha, another round?"
"Sure, great!"
Fuck. This top-shelf baijiu, and he's chugging every pour.
Pretending to pour, Ja Ryong-o hefted the bottle—already light, nearly empty. Damn. Who knew he could drink like this? Miscalculation. Plan was to get him wasted and tilt the contract his way. Thought this booze would floor him!
Ja Ryong-o glared his eyes open again. Vision spun. Already this drunk, no dragging the deal favorably.
'Madman. Face unchanged...'
Jeonghyeon's complexion showed no flush. Shared a bottle of baijiu, and he's fine? For real?
Ja Ryong-o shook his head fiercely.
"Wh-why? You okay?"
Jeonghyeon smirked inwardly at the head-shake. 'I win! Little more, and he'll stamp.'
"N-no, I'm f-fine. G-good."
Fine? No good. Jeonghyeon shook the empty bottle.
"Whoa, all gone already. One more...?"
"Ah, haha... Y-you want another bottle...?"
"If you're tired, we can stop...."
"N-no, not tired. G-great! One more!"
"...Haha! Haha...."
Fuck. Didn't expect another.
Cheon Hyang brought another bottle.
"Here."
"Here."
Pour, drink. Pour, drink. Bottles piled: one, two, three, four.
"Ugh... C-can do m-more...."
"Kyahak! Brother Jeonghyeon! Y-you drunk?"
"Y-you're drunk, bro!"
"I'm n-not!"
Thud! Ja Ryong-o face-planted first.
Jeonghyeon whispered in his ear.
"Just distance... fees, right? No half?"
"Ugh...."
"Real? Big sis witness! Boss man!"
"Ugh... Got it, lemme sleep... Quiet, bro."
"Hehe, won."
Thud! Jeonghyeon planted his face too.
Left watching from the start: Cheon Hyang.
"Two bottles each."
She tucked her hair behind her ear. Propping her chin on her delicate, fern-like hand, she gazed at Jeonghyeon with soft eyes.
"Cute. Hee-hee."
Mumble. Delivery... Let's go...