The Pavilion's Stubborn Rules
Yoo Eunhyeon’s eyes lit up with quiet interest. He studied Ho Won-jik as if examining a rare specimen.
“Interesting. What are they planning at the Dang Clan?”
“I only know up to that point. I can’t say any more….”
Ho Won-jik’s voice grew quieter. Ju Yu-ryeon, who had been watching in silence, rolled up her sleeves.
“Come on. You’re really not going to tell us?”
“N-Noona! I’m telling the truth! It’s so secret even inside the Demonic Cult that only a handful of people know why! It’s not a lie! Please believe me!”
Ho Won-jik waved his hands desperately.
“Ai-ya. You really are useless.”
Yoo Eunhyeon shot Ho Won-jik a sharp glare, but he let it go without pressing further. From the atmosphere earlier, even Wi Dong-jo had looked confused.
And Ho Won-jik, who had already left home and was drifting around, had no reason to know the full story.
“Hmm… The Dang Clan seems to be struggling.”
Ju Yu-ryeon plopped down heavily and muttered something incomprehensible. Yoo Eunhyeon gave her a puzzled look, and she immediately opened her mouth.
“Sichuan borders Qinghai, so the Demonic Cult’s energy slips in easily. That’s not all. One of the Six Pillars of the Demonic Heaven, the Hunzuo Sect, is close to the Amipa branch of the Nine Great Sects. As you can imagine, there’s no peace here.”
“The Dang Clan is a respected family, right? How can they be bullied by something this small?”
Yoo Eunhyeon’s question drew an awkward scratch of Ju Yu-ryeon’s cheek.
“Recently the Dang Clan’s momentum has weakened. I heard that the Demonic Cult ordered the Hunzuo Sect to cut off their distribution of poisons and hidden weapons. While the Demonic Cult grows stronger by the day, the main force still hasn’t been supplied… The Dang Clan must be anxious too.”
“Then we should ask the Seven Central Sects to intervene. Why are we just watching?”
Anger flashed across Yoo Eunhyeon’s face. He clearly could not understand.
“That’s not so simple. If it were a sect-destroying matter, the Seven Central Sects would definitely act, but for every minor dispute we can’t stick our noses in. Besides, if we act rashly… we might just provoke the Demonic Cult or the Heavenly Martial Alliance and make things worse.”
After listening to Ju Yu-ryeon, Yoo Eunhyeon nodded reluctantly. The scattered pieces of the puzzle finally clicked together in his mind.
“So the Dang Clan is traveling outside to collect money and goods.”
Only now did he understand why Dang Jaseung had resorted to such tricks to gather funds. At that moment Ho Won-jik, who had been watching, cautiously interrupted.
“Hyung-nim… it might be better not to stay here long. Things are fine for now, but who knows what Wi Dong-jo will do?”
“Yeah. Let’s rest a little longer and leave around afternoon. That works, right?”
At Yoo Eunhyeon’s words both young men nodded with firm resolve. They had already rested enough and experienced enough; there was no point in lingering.
“But he only gave us a down payment for three days… What do we do with it?”
Ju Yu-ryeon clicked her tongue in regret. Yoo Eunhyeon took out his pouch and showed her the remaining ten gold coins. A single coin was still too precious to waste.
The two exchanged a silent glance and turned to Ho Won-jik.
“Won-jik, go and get it.”
“Huh? M-Me?”
Of course Ho Won-jik looked displeased. He had never asked for such an embarrassing favor before, so the situation felt utterly strange.
“Take it or leave it, but go.”
Even so, Ho Won-jik was not given a choice. Ju Yu-ryeon raised her fist threateningly, and he had no choice but to turn and leave.
*
Back at the luxurious Sugyeongru pavilion, Ho Won-jik, still under Ju Yu-ryeon’s glare, took a deep breath and summoned a passing servant.
“We were supposed to stay three full days, but an urgent matter came up. We’re leaving today and wondered if we could get the remaining payment back.”
“I’m sorry, guest. That is something I cannot handle….”
“Then could you ask someone who has the authority?”
“Yes. Please wait here a moment.”
The servant bowed and hurried away. As a high-class inn, he had handled many guests like Ho Won-jik before.
A short while later his face was filled with embarrassment.
“I… I’m sorry, guest, but I’m afraid we cannot return the remaining money.”
“What?”
“When I asked the manager, he said you should pay for three days of lodging and meals.”
Ho Won-jik clicked his tongue in astonishment. Normally he would have hesitated and retreated, but this time he was resolute.
“I can’t delay any longer. Please return the remaining gold. I have to leave quickly myself.”
The servant bowed reluctantly and rushed off again.
When he returned his face was deathly pale.
“I’m sorry, guest… even the remaining gold cannot be returned. According to the contract, breaking the agreement means you must also pay for the lodging and meals that were wasted, but he has kindly waived that part.”
“What?!”
Ho Won-jik’s face turned from red to green.
He had been trying to speak gently so as not to offend the owner. But he never imagined the manager would be so shameless.
Ho Won-jik shot to his feet, clenched his fists, and his eyes flashed.
“I will report this personally. Guide me there at once!”
Despite the servant’s protests, Ho Won-jik marched forward without hesitation. Yoo Eunhyeon, watching from behind, also rose slightly.
“You’re going after him?”
“Yeah. I’m worried he’ll cause trouble. Stay here.”
“No. We move together when things get like this. Let’s go.”
Ju Yu-ryeon patted her own cheeks lightly and stood up.
Not long after, the sight of Ho Won-jik being scolded by the servant entered their view.
“I told you to guide me! Why aren’t you moving?! Don’t you understand a word I say?!”
“I’m sorry, guest. The owner is currently receiving another guest….”
Ho Won-jik’s killing intent made the servant flinch and stiffen. The commotion grew louder, and finally a middle-aged man who appeared to be another staff member stepped in carefully.
“Guest, is there something troubling you?”
“Y-Young master!”
The man was the one sitting at the counter tossing abacus beads.
After hearing the story from the previous servant, he smiled kindly and slowly raised his head.
“Oh… guest. I understand your situation, but our internal rules make it difficult.”
“What? W-Why?!”
In front of the firm-faced manager, Ho Won-jik’s expression twisted. He had realized this man was no easy opponent.
Ho Won-jik stammered, and the man smiled and continued slowly but clearly.
“Our inn prepares three days’ worth of rooms, food, medicine, and guards for long-term guests. That is to give our guests the best possible convenience. However, if a guest cancels due to sudden personal circumstances, what then? Everything we have prepared would become wasted. In other words, our inn would suffer enormous losses.”
“Th-Then just use it for another guest!”
Ho Won-jik objected urgently. The man shook his head slightly and continued.
“Even then, if there is no other guest scheduled for that time, everything we prepared would be wasted. Moreover, the precious medicine and food are difficult to obtain again, and the staff already assigned to rooms and guards cannot be moved. For these reasons we must follow our established rules. Please understand.”
As a manager, his words were sharp and persuasive. Even Yoo Eunhyeon nodded in agreement; the power behind them was obvious.
But Ho Won-jik was not the type to back down. He grabbed the manager’s words and demanded sharply.
“Who made this rule?”
“The rules of our inn were set by the owner.”
“Is that so? But… if the rule is unfair, no matter who made it, it should be corrected, shouldn’t it?”
The manager’s calm expression hardened at Ho Won-jik’s firm attitude. Ho Won-jik seized the opening.
“That owner, I will meet him directly. If even this is not permitted, I will spread the word that Sugyeongru is tormenting guests with ridiculous rules.”
Mentioning the inn, the man sighed lightly.
“If that is how it is… I will go and speak to the owner.”
The man headed inside.
Ho Won-jik looked dazed for a moment, as if he had not expected things to turn out this way. Then he turned to Yoo Eunhyeon.
“Hyung-nim, things have gotten a little more complicated. What should we do now?”
“The owner probably won’t meet him anyway. Just play it cool and leave for now. The more trouble we cause here, the worse it will be.”
Ju Yu-ryeon narrowed her eyes and said. With a furrowed brow, her head still pounding, she added.
At that moment the manager returned and looked at the group with a stern face.
“The owner wishes to see all three of you.”