Let's Hit the Jackpot Once (4)
The noodle shop owner perked up at my words and nodded eagerly.
"Of course. I'll listen closely."
He even pulled out paper and brush from under the table, so it didn't seem like mere politeness.
With this kind of enthusiasm, even giving advice felt enjoyable for me.
"First, stock up on a lot of ingredients."
"Pardon?"
"Business is going to boom like this, so you need to prepare in advance."
"Thank you for the kind words."
"It's not just kind words. Among all the noodles I've eaten traveling the empire for business, this ranks in the top ten. You can have confidence in the taste."
His face brightened at my words.
"But if the food is so good that business thrives, there will always be people who take issue with it."
"What do you mean by that all of a sudden...?"
I continued my explanation for his bewildered expression.
"Especially at big events like this, that tendency stands out. And one of the nasty tactics those people use is to disrupt your ingredient supply."
"Ah, so that's why you're telling me to stock up on ingredients in advance."
"Exactly."
I nodded.
"And there will be people who deliberately shout about finding foreign objects in the food."
He asked with a worried look at my words.
"How should I handle that?"
"You've been in business a long time, so you've probably dealt with plenty of troublemakers like that, right?"
"That's true. Even back in my hometown, there were occasional customers like that."
"What did you do then?"
"I couldn't tell if it was my mistake or their scheme, so I had no choice but to apologize."
"Right. So apologize quickly. Don't let the situation drag on—that's the key."
He let out a sigh.
"If it's my fault, apologizing a hundred times over is only natural, but bowing to those doing it on purpose fills me with self-loathing. I wonder why I even bother with this business, or what's wrong with people."
"I understand. Anyone in business has those thoughts. I don't know if this comforts you, but people who gain unfairly always suffer losses in some form or another."
I smiled.
"But you're still worried. What if those rumors spread and start feeling real, ruining your business?"
"Yes."
Rumors are always frightening.
Even without experiencing it yourself, hearing the rumor instinctively keeps you away.
"For those people, tell them to write down their names."
"...Pardon?"
"You can spot the deliberate troublemakers right away, can't you? Tell them you don't have money now but will compensate generously later, so please leave your name and where you're staying. And say you'll travel with the patrol to safeguard the money, so please understand."
"You're saying to go even further."
"Yes. Mentioning the patrol serves as a warning to the unscrupulous."
"But what if they write their real names?"
"Give me the list. Since I suggested this method, I'll handle the follow-up."
I continued.
"And after closing up shop, deposit the money straight at the money house."
"Pardon? Every day?"
"Yes. And on the way to the money house, request a patrol escort."
"...You can call the patrol for something like that?"
"That's what you're paying seat tax for—help and protection. You've paid good money, so use it to the fullest."
"True enough."
"With so many people around, thieves will swarm far more than usual. And if you lose money, don't overdo it trying to recover it. Life is more important than money."
"Yes."
"Focus on the money you'll earn ahead rather than what's lost. Can you promise that?"
"I promise."
I think that's all the key advice.
Just then, a customer arrived, and the owner moved to greet them.
I smiled and looked around.
Everyone else seems finished, just me left.
I quickly picked up my chopsticks to finish my noodles when the owner's daughter approached.
"Need anything else?"
At that, Sa-gang small unit leader raised his hand.
"Ah, another bowl of noodles?"
He nodded and hesitated as if about to say more.
"Uh..."
"Ah, more beef added?"
Nod, nod.
Then he drew a circle in the air with his hand, and she said,
"Beef not chopped small?"
Nod, nod.
I was impressed by the sight.
That's practically mind-reading.
"How did you know?"
She grinned at my question and continued.
"Intuition."
"Pardon?"
"Just guessed from the vibe."
For someone as inarticulate as Sa-gang small unit leader, figuring out what he wants isn't easy.
Yet she read his intent effortlessly without much effort.
This isn't ordinary intuition.
She looked at us and asked,
"Anyone else want more noodles?"
All of us, including me, raised our hands.
It was that delicious—we all wanted seconds.
Plus, we'd been up since early morning, so everyone was hungry.
.
.
.
.
The Murim Grand Assembly is divided into the early conference phase and the later sparring matches.
We're in the early phase now.
The sparring won't start for a few more days.
At breakfast, Father mentioned,
"Jin-ho should be arriving in Luoyang about now."
Apparently, Jin-ho hyung had planned to travel from Hubei with Father to Luoyang.
The assembly's sparring features peak experts and beyond, a huge learning opportunity for martial artists.
No way Jin-ho hyung would miss it.
But his business trip ran longer than expected, so Father told him to head straight to Luoyang after wrapping up.
"He's in Shaanxi now, right?"
"Near Mount Hua, precisely."
"Given when he said he'd depart, he should arrive today."
"Yes, it would be good if you went to meet him."
So that's why Father brought it up.
No reason to refuse, and it was what I wanted too, so I agreed readily.
"Yes, got it."
As I replied, Ko Il-pyeong, the outer general eating breakfast beside us, spoke up.
"I'd love to greet Jin-ho small unit leader myself, but I have meetings scheduled today."
Ko outer general is our Eunhae Merchant Group's chief steward and a renowned murim figure titled One Sword Reaches Heaven.
Lots of people at the assembly to reconnect with, no doubt.
Those connections will help Jin-ho hyung later too.
Whether merchants or murim, networks are built the same way.
The surest, safest path is introductions from acquaintances, expanding through them.
Of course, not every intro leads to good results, but the odds are heavily in favor.
They're vouching with their name and face, so they introduce responsibly.
I finished breakfast, lightly prepared, and headed to Luoyang's west gate with my escort warriors.
The road there passed through the commercial district.
Hm?
I suddenly had to stop in my tracks.
"What's up?"
At Palgap's question, I pointed to the side.
A noodle shop with a flag reading Haecheon Noodles.
The place I'd advised last time.
What stopped me was Sa-gang small unit leader sitting there eating noodles.
He must really love them.
Coming all this way first thing in the morning.
Then the owner's daughter approached and chatted with him.
If you could call it a chat, with her handling over eighty percent.
Well, as long as they communicate, it's a conversation.
We resumed walking, and Yeo Eung-am warrior said,
"I have a feeling about this."
"A feeling?"
"About Sa-gang small unit leader. Why else would he be alone at a noodle shop this early?"
"Because the noodles are good?"
Palgap chuckled at my answer.
"I know you're joking."
"It is good, but... no, too hasty to judge."
Nothing's certain yet.
We soon reached Luoyang's west gate.
We waited outside for a good while, but no sign of Jin-ho hyung.
The sun's already high—why hasn't he shown?
I grew increasingly anxious.
Did something happen?
"Young master, should we send someone to look for Jin-ho young master?"
Seo-u warrior noticed my unease and suggested it. I nodded.
"Yeah, sitting idle isn't my style."
I flicked my sleeve.
"Gold Spirit."
"Kkwi!"
Gold Spirit poked its head out.
"Find Jin-ho hyung."
"Kkwi!"
It nodded it understood and shot forward.
Soon, Gold Spirit returned.
Judging by the time... it's farther than I thought.
Something's definitely up.
"Lead the way."
We mounted up, and Gold Spirit perched on my Red River Horse's head.
"Kkwi! Kkwi!"
Run fast?
I nodded and gripped the reins.
"Got it. But how fast?"
"Kkwi!"
You handle it—just hold on tight?
"Picking up speed!"
"Yes!"
The Red River Horse soon accelerated.
Isn't this too fast?
Fortunately, it didn't last long—the horse gradually slowed.
Jin-ho hyung must be nearby.
I spread my energy to sense for him.
Numerous energies nearby, faint clash of weapons.
"Killing intent!"
"Sounds like a fight. Let's hurry."
I spurred the Red River Horse, the others following.
We soon spotted a group locked in combat.
People in Silver Wind Corps uniforms, others in mismatched attire.
And what looked like escort agency folk.
Jin-ho hyung was among them.
"Don't know the details, but let's help Jin-ho hyung first."
"Understood."
We plunged into the melee and reached him.
"Hyung! What's going on?"
"You're here? Explanations later!"
"What now?"
Jin-ho hyung swung his spear and shouted,
"Just take out everyone except Silver Wind Corps and the escorts!"
"Kill them?"
"Yeah. They deserve it!"
If he's that furious, they've committed grave sins.
Our skills overwhelmed them, clearing the field in moments.
"Whew, thanks."
"Yeah, you should be."
Then Jin-ho hyung called back,
"You're safe now."
Moments later, the carriage door opened, and a woman peeked out.
"Really?"
"Yes."
I glanced at Jin-ho hyung, who explained to me,
"On the way to Luoyang, I saw them ambushed. Decided to help, so we were heading back toward Mount Hua."
A bandaged-shoulder man made a fist salute and introduced himself.
"I'm Gi Chil-du, leader of Yong-ung Escort Agency."
"Eunhae Merchant Group's third small unit leader, Eun Seo-ho."
Jin-ho hyung smirked at my intro.
"My little brother. Even has the title Seonhyeopmirang."
Why are you smirking?
Gi leader was startled by my name.
"The Seonhyeopmirang?"
"Embarrassed to say it, but yes. Looks like you were escorting the young ladies in that carriage, right?"
"Yes. We took a commission to protect these young ladies to Mount Hua."
"Ah, the kind who stay in Luoyang."
"Exactly."
With so many murim folk flooding Luoyang, scum comes too.
During big events, young ladies from murim families temporarily seek refuge at Mount Hua Sect.
Sect disciples escort them, but sometimes they can't.
Then they hire escorts like this agency.
Master took similar jobs during the Young Dragon Sparring Tournament.
"But someone was targeting these young ladies."
Obvious why.
"Said they planned to sell them as courtesans. After hearing, Eunhae Merchant Group's Eun daehyeop graciously offered to accompany us to Mount Hua. With our escorts lost, I had no choice but to accept, shamefully."
"I see."
"And during the second attack, Seonhyeopmirang daehyeop came to our aid."
I looked at Jin-ho hyung.
Plenty to say, but priority is getting these ladies safely to Mount Hua.
"I'll join the escort."
And so we set off for Mount Hua.
"Exact destination? Do we climb all the way?"
A Myeong-jong warrior answered.
"No. Carriages can't go up Mount Hua, nor can the young ladies."
"Fair enough."
Mount Hua isn't some neighborhood hill.
"So we book multiple inns in the base village. Hua Shan disciples protect them there."
"Got it."
As we neared, the Myeong-jong warrior's expression grew complicated.
Makes sense.
Mount Hua was practically his lifelong home.
But now, barely escaped expulsion over some scandal.
We soon arrived at the inn below Mount Hua.
That was when it happened.
"You! You bastard!"
Someone charged at us from afar...
Wha—?
Thwack!