The Head Chef of the Golden Rooster Pavilion (3)
Clearly, there had been something different from his previous life...
Had he been too lost in thought?
As he lifted the teapot to pour, the tea overflowed in an instant.
"Ah! Hot!"
"Are you alright, sir?"
"Yeah..."
"You should've been more careful, sir."
Palgap quickly dabbed at his hand and sleeve with a handkerchief.
Ah... Now I remember what that sense of wrongness was.
In his previous life, Young Master Ho Gyeong had an extreme aversion to hot things.
He even let his tea cool completely before drinking it...
He hadn't always been like that—some incident had changed him...
Could that incident be the accident that just happened this time?
Even without me there, he'd somehow survived it.
Which would mean it wasn't a simple accident back then either—that the Baeg Cheon Merchant Group had schemed against the Baeg Yeom Merchant Group.
Lost in such thoughts, he picked up a snack dusted with gold leaf and popped it into his mouth.
As expected, the gold dust made it delicious...
Ah! But I'm not really into gold leaf.
Just then, a maid's voice rang out.
"The upper leader has arrived."
He rose from his seat at once.
The door soon opened, and in walked Ho Ju-sin, the leader of the Baeg Yeom Merchant Group, along with his son and Young Master Ho Gyeong.
"Thank you for inviting us here."
They exchanged polite bows, then took their seats.
"I'm truly grateful for what you did to save my grandson the other day."
"Not at all. I simply couldn't ignore the accident right in front of me."
"That's what makes you a hero. As expected of the Seonhyeopmirang."
...That burdensome nickname—who wants to take it off my hands?
I still couldn't get used to it, no matter how many times I heard it.
"Ah, how's the tea and snacks?"
"Yes, they're delicious."
"I'm glad you like them. By the way, I heard that the artifact you used for that incident reached the end of its lifespan."
He pulled a box from his robe and handed it over.
"Take it."
He opened the box and peered inside.
"This is...?"
"I got you a new one infused with cold energy."
"..."
That was just a cheap trinket...
The snack he'd just eaten suddenly felt stuck in his throat.
He quickly pushed the box back toward Ho Ju-sin and said,
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept this."
"Didn't you use your artifact to save my grandson, and it exhausted its lifespan because of that?"
"Even without that, it was an artifact that would have reached its end anyway."
"Still, didn't that incident hasten its demise?"
"I can't say that's definitively true."
He refused steadfastly, but Ho Ju-sin wouldn't back down either.
This is tricky. What am I supposed to do?
If I'd actually used a real artifact, that'd be one thing—but I hadn't.
It's like being accused of murder for burying a corpse.
Back then, he'd thought he'd cleverly hidden his cultivation with the trinket Geum Ryeong had tossed him...
This is why you shouldn't lie...
But he had no choice. Who knew where the Murim Alliance's hidden eyes and ears might be?
And his cultivation was a fang he had to conceal for revenge.
As he continued to decline, Ho Ju-sin pressed him.
"Come on now! Just take it already."
"Why won't you accept it?"
"Is the artifact not to your liking, perhaps?"
With not just Ho Ju-sin but Ho Gyeong and his father joining in, he couldn't refuse any longer.
Fine. He'd saved Ho Gyeong, after all. Might as well accept.
"Then, shameless as it is, I'll gratefully accept."
"Good thinking."
He took the artifact and set it aside.
Then Ho Gyeong's father spoke up.
"And since Ho Gyeong escaped disaster thanks to you, it feels right to express our gratitude separately. So I've prepared this—please accept it."
He handed over an envelope.
He opened it and looked inside.
"..."
It contained an iron token.
"It's a token that lets you request any ironware you desire. You can use it at any of our Baeg Yeom Merchant Group's iron shops anywhere in the empire."
It was worth far more than a hefty sum of gold.
They're serious.
He'd already accepted the artifact, so he couldn't turn this down now.
Did they offer the artifact first for this very reason?
Damn... Feels like I got outmaneuvered.
"I'll gratefully accept it."
At that moment, Ho Ju-sin asked,
"Haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"No, not yet."
"Perfect. Care to join me for lunch, then?"
"Sounds good."
So that's why they asked me to come at this hour—for a meal together.
"Let's head out, then."
"Yes."
They made their way to the restaurant inside the compound.
Soon, a vast table was laden with countless dumplings.
Um, Upper Leader? This is definitely not a simple lunch, no matter how you look at it...
"Dig in."
"Thank you for the meal."
The ghosts of those who ate well before dying are said to have a fine sheen—might as well eat.
There were over twenty varieties of dumplings on the table.
Thanks to that, he got to sample all sorts of kinds.
After that enjoyable lunch, they sipped tea and chatted.
Before long, the conversation turned to a book he'd recently read.
"Hoho, you've read that book too?"
"Yes, someone recommended it to me not long ago."
"It's well worth recommending. Gives you plenty to ponder. Especially in the third chapter..."
Since he'd just read it recently, he could keep up easily, and Ho Ju-sin grew animated, carrying on the discussion.
Watching him, it felt like all the effort of slogging through that dry book had paid off.
As they conversed, a servant approached.
"Upper Leader, sorry to interrupt your enjoyable time, but your appointment with the Seo-ga Merchant Group leader is coming up soon."
"Ah! Has it gotten that late already? Understood."
He rose from his seat and said,
"Talking with you really makes time fly. Your insight is impressive."
"You're too kind."
"And thanks for putting up with this old man's chatter."
"Not at all—I enjoyed it too."
"Come visit anytime. I'll always look forward to seeing you."
Earlier, he'd seemed full of gratitude toward him, but now it felt more like the joy of finding a like-minded friend.
"Well then, take care."
"Yes, until next time."
Once Ho Ju-sin departed, his son, the branch leader, also stood.
"I have an prior engagement soon, so I'll take my leave first."
"Yes. It was a pleasure today."
"Feel free to chat more with Gyeong if you'd like. Take care."
"Yes."
With the two elders gone, only he and Ho Gyeong remained.
He scratched the back of his neck and said,
"I'm worried all these gifts might give me indigestion."
"Please don't say that. They're all things the branch leader can easily handle."
Ho Gyeong continued,
"Honestly, I barely talked them out of giving even more. I figured you'd feel burdened."
"You did well."
"Our family motto is to repay twice what we receive, so everyone gets carried away. I hope there's no misunderstanding."
"I see. That's a fine motto."
"So..."
Thud.
Ho Gyeong pulled something from his sleeve and set it on the table.
This was...
He couldn't help but flinch at the sight.
"Isn't this a dagger?"
What could this mean? Is he giving it to me?
Ho Gyeong spoke with grave resolve.
"Since you saved my life, branch leader, I intend to repay that grace with my own life."
"I trust you're not saying you're entrusting your life to me or anything like that."
"Of course not. I value my life too, you know."
"Then why this...?"
"This is a token of my vow to one day stake my life to aid you, branch leader."
Hey, isn't that pretty much the same thing?
"If I ever forget this promise, please pull out this dagger and remind me."
It was a bit burdensome, but the atmosphere made it impossible to refuse.
"Understood. I'll remember."
The heir to the world's greatest merchant group—there'll come a day when his help is needed.
He carefully tucked the dagger into his robe.
"What's your afternoon schedule like?"
"I have a dinner gathering this evening."
At his answer, Ho Gyeong smiled and said,
"Must be with some fine people."
"Oh? That obvious?"
"I could tell from the smile you just flashed."
"Spot on. I made plans to dine with the branch leaders I sat with at the recent gathering. I found this amazing place that does spicy braised chicken."
Not really a secret anyway.
"Spicy braised chicken? Ah! The Golden Rooster Pavilion!"
"That's right. You know it well?"
Ho Gyeong shook his head at the question.
"Beyond what I mentioned before, not really. It's been open just over a year, and all I know is that the pavilion master and head chef are a married couple."
"A husband-and-wife team, huh. If they settled here, they must be locals."
"No, I hear they came from out of town."
"I see."
Then, to his surprise, Ho Gyeong said,
"Eun branch leader, if it's not too rude, may I join you there?"
"Pardon?"
"I'd like to get to know them."
"So those words back then weren't just empty talk?"
He nodded at the question.
"I don't make empty promises."
True enough. Even in his previous life, Ho Gyeong never spoke idly.
"Then why not just meet the two of us tomorrow?"
"That'd be nice too, but gatherings with more people are more fun, don't you think?"
He went on,
"Truth be told, I don't have many friends my age. And even among fellow merchants, I haven't found anyone whose temperament matches mine."
"I understand."
"But if they're friends with you, Eun branch leader, they might be my kind of people too."
He got the sentiment completely.
Those who didn't know the circumstances might say, "Do you really have to be so picky about friends?" But...
Once you reached the level of the top hundred merchant groups—let alone the world's greatest—you had no choice but to be selective.
Because most people approached for the money.
That was why so many heirs to top merchant groups had been hurt by fake friends.
If you spotted it early and cut ties, you were lucky—but fail to do so, and those "friends" could ruin your life.
Of course, the ones who'd tormented Young Master Dam Jin were a different breed, cliquing up among themselves...
In any case, paradoxically, finding true heart-to-heart bonds amid such wealth gaps was harder than plucking stars from the sky.
True friendships willing to risk life and limb despite the divide did exist, but they were exceedingly rare.
Understanding that all too well himself, he couldn't refuse the request.
"Got it. I'll check with the others and let you know."
This gathering was one he'd hosted partly for his birthday, but the other attendees' feelings mattered too.
"You'll really do that?"
"It's no trouble."
"Then I'll send someone from our group. Chat with me in the meantime."
He summoned a servant and sent word to those gathering for dinner that evening.
They resumed their conversation.
"I was actually surprised listening to you talk with my grandfather earlier. He loves books more than most merchants, so he's quite learned. But..."
He chuckled softly.
"He does love to talk."
"..."
That was true, but he hadn't expected even the grandson, Ho Gyeong, to say it so bluntly.
It wasn't about business chatter—he just enjoyed expounding on the books he'd read.
Probably compensating for times he'd been looked down on due to his scholarly bent.
How badly must he have been dismissed back then...?
Ho Gyeong continued,
"I know why he does it, but my father and I both struggle to keep up with him for over an hour."
"Hahaha."
"It's a real ordeal. Filial duty demands we listen, but..."
He sighed.
"What's your secret?"
"No real secret."
He scratched the back of his neck and said,
"I just read books in my spare time."
"Books, you say?"
He nodded.
"Yes. At our level of top hundred merchant groups, we mostly deal with other top groups or officials, right? They love discussing books."
"Makes sense. That's probably why Grandfather reads so much too."
"Likely."
After a moment's thought, Ho Gyeong asked,
"How many hours do you sleep on a normal day?"
"Normally?"
Hm, come to think of it, how many hours did he usually sleep?
After a quick calculation, he felt a bit sheepish saying it aloud.
"Why? Something wrong?"
"Well... I never really thought about it, but just now I figured it out—about two hours a day."
"..."
Wow, and I'm still alive?
As they talked, servants from the compound arrived.