Let’s Do a Job Together, You and Me (2)
Hong Dae-gwang’s gaze settled on the teacup.
Cheap leaf tea had been poured into a filthy cup with a chipped rim. And yet the man across from him drank it happily, slurping it down as if nothing in the world could possibly be amiss.
He’s not picky, at least.
Given the nature of his work, Hong Dae-gwang had met people from all sorts of sects, and plenty of them would wrinkle their noses the moment they saw a cup like this.
If you come to a beggar’s den and expect proper hospitality, you’re the weird one.
On that front, the man in front of him passed the test.
He knew when to mind the place he was in, and he understood the situation.
The only problem was…
“So…”
Hong Dae-gwang looked at Chung Myung with a slightly dazed expression and said, “You’re the third-generation disciple from Mount Hua?”
“Chung Myung.”
“Then you’re that famous Mount Hua Divine Dragon?”
“It’s a title I really don’t like, but that’s what everyone calls me.”
Chung Myung let out a sigh.
A divine dragon, huh? Give me a break. It was embarrassing enough just hearing it.
There had to be a dozen more dignified, respectable titles out there, so why did they have to stick him with something so childish?
“Oh, then, um…”
Hong Dae-gwang looked Chung Myung over again, then nodded. His eyes drifted to the report in his hand.
It does seem a bit like the sketch.
It wasn’t an exact match, but that couldn’t be helped. Children that age could shoot up half a span in a day.
Still, just the plum blossom pattern stitched onto his chest was enough to prove he was a Mount Hua disciple.
Hong Dae-gwang gave a small nod.
“So you’re Chung Myung, the Mount Hua third-generation disciple and Mount Hua Divine Dragon. What business have you come to the local branch leader with?”
“I came to sell something.”
“……”
A vein throbbed faintly at Hong Dae-gwang’s temple.
What, does this brat think this is some open-air market?
This was the first time anyone had ever come to the Luoyang branch of the Beggars’ Sect and announced they were here to sell something.
“Then were you the one who came in after tossing all the beggars outside into the air?”
“I told them I came to see the branch leader, but they wouldn’t let me in, so I had to use a little force.”
“Hmph.”
Hong Dae-gwang took a deep breath.
This wasn’t something to blame Chung Myung for outright. If he really was the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, then given his reputation in the martial world, he was not someone you could just brush off because he looked young.
It was those underlings who messed up, thinking they could dismiss him because of his age.
“On that matter, I do apologize.”
“It’s fine. What would beggars know, anyway.”
“……”
Hong Dae-gwang narrowed his eyes at him.
Definitely not ordinary.
But that wasn’t surprising.
It was harder to find an ordinary person among those who had made a name for themselves in the martial world. Most of the people who rose above the crowd had some decidedly unordinary quality about them.
And if the one before him was the Mount Hua Divine Dragon, the most renowned of the current younger generation, then even if he was a total personality disaster, it would still be understandable.
“So you said you came to sell something?”
“Yeah.”
“Young hero. You don’t seem to know this because you lack experience in the martial world, but the Beggars’ Sect isn’t that kind of place. If you want to sell something, go to the open market.”
“Oh, really?”
Chung Myung nodded and stood up.
He got up so casually that Hong Dae-gwang was the one caught off guard.
Should I stop him?
He did want to hear what exactly Chung Myung had come to sell…
Before he could finish deciding, Chung Myung asked, “Where’s the nearest Hao Clan branch?”
The sudden question made Hong Dae-gwang’s eyes widen.
“Why are you looking for the Hao Clan branch?”
“To sell something.”
“……”
Hong Dae-gwang’s eyes flickered.
The fact that Chung Myung was looking for the Hao Clan the moment the Beggars’ Sect turned him away meant he hadn’t stumbled in here cluelessly.
“Could the thing you’re trying to sell be…?”
“There’s no need to tell someone who won’t buy it.”
“Wait, hold on. Young hero, I think I may have made a mistake!”
Hong Dae-gwang hurried to stop him, but Chung Myung snapped back irritably.
“I came here because we’re supposedly on the same side, and you block the door and say beggars can’t come in. Then the branch leader tells me to go to a market stall. The Beggars’ Sect really isn’t what it used to be.”
How would you know what the Beggars’ Sect used to be like?
The thought flickered through Hong Dae-gwang’s mind, but that wasn’t the important part.
“F-first, why don’t you sit back down?”
“Hmm. I’m not really feeling it.”
“Don’t be like that. Come on, sit, sit.”
Only then did Chung Myung reluctantly sit back down. Hong Dae-gwang immediately barked, “Bring better tea!”
“Tea’s fine. Just give me some grain wine.”
“……”
Hong Dae-gwang tilted his head.
Grain wine was a polite way of referring to alcohol. Didn’t “tea made from grain” just mean liquor?
“You’re a Daoist?”
“That’s why I said grain wine.”
“Uh… r-right, I understand. Bring out the liquor! Liquor!”
After issuing the order, Hong Dae-gwang turned back to Chung Myung.
He doesn’t seem to be some clueless fool.
That meant he had really come here with a serious business proposition.
Hong Dae-gwang quickly put on a friendly smile. “All right then. What is it you’re trying to sell?”
“This.”
Without hesitation, Chung Myung took a treasure map from inside his robes and laid it on the table.
A cipher?
Hong Dae-gwang’s brow furrowed sharply.
One glance was enough to tell him this was no ordinary item. He had dealt with similar things before in his position as branch leader of the Beggars’ Sect, but the cipher Chung Myung had just placed before him was on an entirely different level from anything he had seen so far.
Just how complicated is this?
If those were not random lines scribbled however they pleased, but a truly intricate encoded map, then he could barely imagine what kind of person must have created it.
“Th-this…”
Hong Dae-gwang unconsciously reached toward the treasure map, and Chung Myung smacked the back of his hand.
“Hey! No touching. Just look with your eyes!”
“……”
Hong Dae-gwang stared at him in alarm.
I felt like my heart jumped right up into my throat.
Until Chung Myung struck his hand away, Hong Dae-gwang hadn’t noticed a single one of his movements. If Chung Myung had been holding a sword instead, he might have lost his wrist without even realizing it.
Was the Mount Hua Divine Dragon really this strong?
Of course, he had never doubted the rumor of Chung Myung’s skill.
When you dealt in information long enough, you learned to separate hearsay from truth. And just looking at how Wudang had kept its mouth shut whenever the Mount Hua Divine Dragon’s feats were brought up was enough to tell him that, embellishment or not, the stories weren’t lies.
But even if the rumor were true as written, the fact that Hong Dae-gwang hadn’t been able to catch even the motion was shocking.
I need to seriously revise the branch’s evaluation of the Mount Hua Divine Dragon.
Swallowing dryly, Hong Dae-gwang looked back down at the treasure map. This was the important part now.
“What exactly is this?”
“Uh… well, where do I even start?”
Chung Myung shrugged.
After hearing the whole explanation, Hong Dae-gwang looked back and forth between the treasure map and Chung Myung.
“Uh…”
“Hold on.”
Just as Hong Dae-gwang was about to speak after a long silence, Chung Myung lifted a hand to stop him.
“Save me the ‘can I trust this?’, ‘this is absurd,’ and all that nonsense. I’ve already heard enough of that. Besides, isn’t figuring out whether it’s true and making a judgment your job?”
“……That is true.”
Chung Myung grinned.
“Good. So how much are you buying it for?”
How much?
Hong Dae-gwang’s face grew hot.
If everything Chung Myung said was true, and this brat had really beaten down the Clear Stream Sword Mu Jin and taken the treasure map from him. And if this treasure map truly belonged to Talgeom Muheun—Yakseon’s tomb, the Sword Tomb—
There’s no way to even estimate it.
It was a priceless treasure.
Strictly speaking, it did have a price, but that price existed in a realm far beyond anything Hong Dae-gwang could judge.
Hong Dae-gwang’s mind spun rapidly.
“Well, um… this, uh…”
Then he suddenly jerked his head up and looked at Chung Myung.
“You’re selling it?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“……Is that really the question you ask someone who came here to sell something?”
“N-no, that’s not what I mean, it’s just that this is, um…”
Chung Myung snorted softly.
“If I could’ve solved it, I would’ve. But what’s the point of carrying it around if I can’t crack it anyway? Might as well make some money.”
“Hmm.”
Hong Dae-gwang nodded.
That was true enough. There were plenty of people who spent their whole lives staggering around under the weight of some so-called treasure, only to die before ever enjoying a shred of its worth. Perhaps Chung Myung was the wise one here.
He’s sharp with money and quick to judge. Not much like a Daoist. He’s closer to a merchant or a commoner, really. Even taking into account that he’s a Mount Hua disciple…
That meant the boy before him was more dangerous than he had expected.
Those who followed their sect’s principles without question might be strong, but they generally conformed to the world’s order. Men like this, however, once they gained power, would try to shake the world itself to its core.
Mount Hua might make a name for itself across the world within thirty years.
Hong Dae-gwang seemed to be lost in thought, and Chung Myung frowned.
“Hey.”
“Ah. Go on.”
“We’re both busy, so let’s move it along. How much are you offering?”
“……Hmm.”
Hong Dae-gwang stared at the treasure map for a long moment, then glanced at Chung Myung as though gauging his reaction.
His mind is quick, but he’s still lacking in experience.
He deliberately put on a very troubled expression.
“If this treasure map is truly the one from the Sword Tomb, then its value would indeed be priceless.”
“Right.”
“But there are so many factors to consider.”
“Huh?”
“First, the fact that this item came from Wudang. That means it can originally be considered Wudang’s property. No matter that it’s the treasure map of the Sword Tomb, once word gets out that it’s a Wudang item, the number of people willing to buy it will be cut in half.”
“Hmm.”
“And then there’s the fact that we can’t be certain whether this treasure map can even be deciphered.”
“Hmmm.”
“On top of that, the Beggars’ Sect would have to conceal the fact that we purchased it, and we’d need to find a buyer in absolute secrecy so no rumor spreads. Most importantly, there is no proof this is really the Sword Tomb’s treasure map.”
“So?”
Chung Myung stared at Hong Dae-gwang. After a small cough, Hong Dae-gwang spoke.
“Taking all of that into account, the fair market price for this treasure map would be one hundred thousand nyang. I’ll even generously add twenty thousand nyang out of personal friendship with the Mount Hua Divine Dragon. How about one hundred twenty thousand nyang?”
“One hundred twenty thousand nyang?”
“That’s right.”
“Really?”
“Hahaha. I’m giving you a very good price.”
Chung Myung smiled brightly, and Hong Dae-gwang smiled back.
Yes, what would you know?
No matter how quick the boy’s mind or how gifted his swordsmanship, those daoists who lived in the mountains eating grass were hardly likely to be sharp with money. This was exactly what people called a mark—a sucker.
So the situation now was that a sucker had rolled right into the Luoyang branch and practically fallen into his lap…
Thud.
Chung Myung snatched the treasure map back and stuffed it into his robes.
“Where did you say the nearest Hao Clan branch was?”
“……Young hero?”
Chung Myung flashed a cheerful smile.
“The price doesn’t seem to match, so I think I’ll be going.”
“W-wait, young hero. What do you mean it doesn’t match?”
Why was he suddenly doing this when things were going so well?
At that moment, Chung Myung fixed Hong Dae-gwang with a gaze that had gone faintly glossy.
“One hundred twenty thousand nyang?”
“……W-well, yes. If you really hate that price, I could go up to one hundred fifty thousand—”
“One hundred fifty thousand nyang?”
“……”
In that instant, Hong Dae-gwang had a terrible realization.
I made a mistake.
This bastard had a rough idea of how much it was worth. He needed to fix this somehow—
“You pieces of trash really think I’m stupid, huh?”
At last, Chung Myung’s eyes completely flipped over.
Crash!
Then the table went flying.
As reports and leaf tea scattered everywhere, Hong Dae-gwang stood there empty-minded, stunned out of his wits.
“You think you can rip people off right in front of me, you beggar bastards!”
Uh…
This looked like it had gone horribly wrong.