Chapter 159 : Lee Seowon (3)

The Merchant King’s words continued.“An inn is a place where one sells experiences.”

“Isn’t it a place where food and alcohol are sold?”

When Jin Seong-un asked back, the Merchant King smiled faintly.

“Food and alcohol are also part of the experience. The mood and atmosphere of the day, the weather, the attitude of the innkeeper and the waiter—all of that becomes a momentary experience for the guests, etched into their memory.”

Jin Seong-un mulled over the Merchant King’s words for a moment.

Indeed, when he thought not as a waiter but from the standpoint of an innkeeper, he realized that he was unknowingly paying attention to many things for the sake of the customers’ comfort and mood.

When Jin Seong-un nodded, the Merchant King, with a satisfied expression, continued.

“It’s a struggle over what kind of experience you can provide your customers. Right now, Seong-un Inn is clearly being defeated by Geumun Inn.”

“……That is true.”

The Merchant King was right.

Recently, the high-ranking officials who gathered in Yichang were building connections through Geumun Inn, forging ties with Myriad Gold Manor, and enjoying the ‘experience’ of upper-class culture among themselves.

It was undeniably a value that Seong-un Inn could not provide.

“Seong-un, how could you possibly hinder the experiences that Geumun Inn is offering to those high officials and their heirs?”

While Jin Seong-un was lost in thought, the Divine Thief suggested stealing the customers’ belongings, and the Blood Demon left only the single word: “Fire.”

But arsoning another person’s inn was out of the question, so Jin Seong-un and the Merchant King lightly ignored it.

The Merchant King said.

“The Mad Rooster said she owes you money, didn’t she?”

The Mad Rooster, Byeokcheon-gae.

Jin Seong-un recalled the face and raspy voice of the Beggars’ Union Elder. Just that alone made him feel a faint wave of dizziness.

“I had forgotten.”

“A merchant must always keep his accounts clear. Call the Mad Rooster and have her repay her debt.”

The Mad Rooster of the Beggars’ Union, Elder Byeok, came to Seong-un Inn at Jin Seong-un’s summons.

As always, she was accompanied by a dozen or so filthy subordinates.

Afraid that the stench they carried might permeate the inn, Jin Seong-un hurriedly led them outside.

“……Didn’t you agree to keep yourself washed from now on?”

Back then, Jin Seong-un had asked why a beggar shouldn’t wash when there were wells and rivers everywhere. Unable to answer, Elder Byeok had started washing from that day on.

With her characteristic awkward smile, Elder Byeok said.

“After some thought, I realized that no matter how much I wash, it’s all for nothing if I travel with these fellows.”

Elder Byeok pointed at her subordinates.

When Jin Seong-un looked at the beggars lined up behind her, they all grinned widely, showing their yellow teeth as if they found it amusing.

Clicking his tongue, Jin Seong-un spoke.

“I see. In any case, the reason I called you, Elder, is to collect what you promised me the other day.”

At that, Elder Byeok’s expression turned uneasy.

As Jin Seong-un stared straight at her, Elder Byeok scratched her head and said.

“Couldn’t you give me just a little more time? I’ve nearly gathered it all…”

The debt Elder Byeok owed was three hundred taels of silver. In gold, that was about fifteen taels.

Jin Seong-un narrowed his eyes.

“You still haven’t gathered it?”

“Hrmm, when have I ever earned money before? It’s harder than I thought. Still, I managed to gather about ten taels of gold, so just a few more months and I should have it all.”

“……How did you gather it?”

Given that an Elder of the Beggars’ Union could easily earn such an amount in a single day if she wished, Jin Seong-un found it strange.

Elder Byeok answered with a tone as if it were obvious.

“Begging, of course.”

“……What?”

“Would a beggar have any other way to gather money?”

Looking at the proudly smiling Elder Byeok, Jin Seong-un was at a rare loss for words.

The fact that she had gathered ten taels of gold through begging meant she had truly begged without rest.

“Let’s settle with the ten taels.”

At that, Elder Byeok’s brow twitched.

“What? That cannot be. I swore upon the name of an Elder of the Beggars’ Union, how could I?”

“Then help me out a little. The missing amount can be covered by that help.”

“You mean, help you?”

Elder Byeok looked at Jin Seong-un with a puzzled face.

To her, Jin Seong-un was already half a monster, and she couldn’t imagine him needing anyone’s help.

Jin Seong-un pointed toward the Geumun Inn across the street and spoke in a subtle tone.

“Reveal your identity, take your subordinates, and dine there every day, all day long, until you’ve spent the ten taels of gold you gathered to repay me.”

A deeper confusion filled Elder Byeok’s face. What kind of request was this supposed to be?

“How does that help you?”

“It’s a matter between inns.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. But it won’t be easy. A beggar, by nature, doesn’t pay for food.”

“Surely an Elder of the Beggars’ Union wouldn’t cheat a distant junior of her money.”

“……I said I’ll repay you.”

Elder Byeok looked troubled.

Even famous martial artists would usually slip away when they saw her, but somehow, in front of Jin Seong-un, she always seemed to lose her footing.

Jin Seong-un extended his palm toward her.

“If you don’t want to grant my request, then pay me now.”

“I don’t have it.”

“Then grant my request.”

“……”

Elder Byeok stared at Jin Seong-un’s palm for a long moment, then turned her head to look at her subordinates.

The fifteen beggars emptied their pockets, gathering together a total of three nyang in copper coins.

“……”

After a brief silence, Elder Byeok spoke.

“If I really do as you say, then the debt is fully repaid, yes? And it counts as helping you?”

“That’s right.”

“Fine then. I cannot ignore the request of a pretty junior.”

Once she made her decision, Elder Byeok’s expression looked rather satisfied. Truthfully, she had suffered a lot wandering all over the world to beg until now.

Turning toward Geumun Inn, Elder Byeok strode forward with a proud air and spoke to her subordinates.

“Come on, let’s go.”

As had become usual, most of the tables at Geumun Inn were filled with high officials and their heirs.

With its antique decorations, fine cuisine, and exquisite liquor, Geumun Inn had become the central venue they used for their social gatherings.

It was at that moment.

A cheerful atmosphere was continuing when suddenly a group of beggars entered Geumun Inn.

At once, everyone inside the inn frowned or covered their noses.

Elder Byeok grinned wide, showing her yellow teeth.

“Bring us some food.”

“Khmm, I’m sorry, but business has already ended for today…”

The quick-witted waiter tried to make an excuse to send the beggars away.

But Elder Byeok grabbed the waiter’s head with one hand and slowly turned it.

“Isn’t that food they’re eating?”

“……”

Those who had been dining coughed unpleasantly, and some glared openly at Elder Byeok.

Then Geumun Inn’s guards rushed down and spoke in a polite yet firm tone.

“This inn is for esteemed guests. Please, instead of making a scene here, wait behind the inn and we’ll give you a bucket of leftover food…”

Splat—!

Elder Byeok’s hand swung up, and the guard’s head twisted sideways before he slumped to the floor.

At that, several other guards raised their energy, and a few officials watching from their seats quietly stood.

This was a gathering place for high-ranking officials. If one resolved this commotion, it would surely leave a fine impression on many people.

Some of them were just about to reveal their identities when—

“I am Elder Byeok, the Mad Rooster of the Beggars’ Union. I’ve brought money, so let’s eat, let’s eat.”

The guards who had been raising their momentum froze in place. The officials who had boldly risen also looked around at the eyes on them and slowly sat back down.

Of course, being an Elder of the Nine Sects was in itself an immense authority. But more than that, the infamy of the Mad Rooster was overwhelming.

Like a crazed chicken that had eaten something too spicy, this woman would charge madly, filled with venom, without caring about fire or water.

Rumors said she didn’t care whether her opponent was the Murim Alliance Leader, a renowned master of the Nine Sects, or even a high official.

One group quietly stood, paid swiftly, and slipped out.

Whether it was because they couldn’t endure the stench or because they feared the Mad Rooster’s notoriety, it wasn’t clear.

But thanks to that, Elder Byeok pointed to an empty table.

“A seat has opened. Sit.”

Elder Byeok and her subordinates strode boldly across the inn.

Those who had been eating were becoming dizzy from the stench. Having lived pampered lives, they were even more defenseless against such foul odors.

After sitting, Elder Byeok flicked her hand at the waiter.

“……Y-yes. What shall I prepare for you?”

The waiter, startled, rushed over and bowed deeply as he asked.

Once he knew he was dealing with an Elder of the Beggars’ Union, there was no other choice.

Elder Byeok ordered all sorts of alcohol and dishes.

The entire time he took her order, the waiter had to fight desperately not to retch.

When Elder Byeok and her subordinates finally finished their heavy meal and left, the inn’s waiter and guards at last breathed in relief.

But that was only the beginning.

The beggars came to Geumun Inn every single day.

They arrived in the morning and ate nonstop until lunch, then ordered new food and alcohol. They only left at night when the inn closed.

Within just a few days, they had eaten so much that their faces became plump and round.

Watching from the window as the beggars disappeared into the night, Ha Ju-yeon clenched her fist.

Naturally, the high-ranking officials and their heirs couldn’t endure the stench. Already, it had been a long time since anyone but the beggars had set foot inside.

“We can’t exactly drive out an Elder of the Beggars’ Union…”

The Beggars’ Union wasn’t just a group of vagrants.

For generations, they had been synonymous with chivalry and were respected by all. Rumors even said the Dragon Head Chief had ties to the imperial family.

Some even claimed the very founding of the Beggars’ Union had been orchestrated by the imperial court for a certain purpose.

As Ha Ju-yeon pressed her head against the wall in frustration, Lee Seowon was, as always, calmly and indifferently organizing documents.

Seeing this, Ha Ju-yeon furrowed her brows sharply.

“You remain so calm?”

“Yes. It isn’t my inn.”

“……Is that all you have to say?”

“Why not take this chance to build ties with the Elder of the Beggars’ Union? In the long run, she could be of help.”

Of course, Ha Ju-yeon had never once faced Elder Byeok in person. In terms of noble upbringing, she was even more pampered than the officials who visited as guests.

“Ah, you have a weak stomach, don’t you.”

When Lee Seowon said that, Ha Ju-yeon’s face flushed red and blue.

In her heart, she wanted to beat that pale-faced scholar to a pulp.

But without Lee Seowon, she had no confidence of defeating Seong-un Inn, and with her own cotton-padded fists that lacked any muscle, she couldn’t know how a fight would turn out. So she endured and said.

“……Truly, is there no way? Unless we drive those beggars out, we can’t do anything.”

“Well…”

Lee Seowon tapped his finger against the desk, falling into thought.

Truthfully, he was surprised as well.

He had thought Jin Seong-un might try to use his murim connections to attempt something.

But he had never imagined it would be like this.

This method was the worst possible scenario for Geumun Inn. If Seong-un had used the influence of Wudang Sect or Tang Clan to apply force, then Myriad Gold Manor would have had the justification to use money and power openly.

“But all he did was send in some customers. And not just any customers—rather precious ones.”

If Geumun Inn tried to retaliate against Jin Seong-un now, it would look as though they were treating an Elder of the Beggars’ Union as a common thug.

They could neither drive out the beggars nor retaliate against Seong-un Inn.

They had raised the commercial atmosphere into a high-class sphere, tailoring the entire market to Geumun Inn. And in turn, Seong-un Inn had unleashed a few beggars to strike directly at that luxury’s greatest weakness.

It was simple, yet elegant.

It was certainly not the method of a murim martial artist. Nor was it the approach of small merchants like Jin Seong-un or Han Seong-chun.

“Does he have a strategist? Or did Bang Man-bok of the Red Cliff Escort Agency advise him?”

If so, then Bang Man-bok might be an even more skilled merchant than Lee Seowon had thought.

Lee Seowon felt a rare sense of being cornered in a battle of wits.

He was deep in thought, trying to devise a way out of this situation, when—

KWAANG—!

A thunderous explosion shook the very ground.

Even Lee Seowon, normally emotionless, sprang up in shock.

Lee Seowon and Ha Ju-yeon rushed to the window to look outside.

“……”

Late at night, the members of Seong-un Inn were fighting in the open courtyard where they could be seen clearly.

To be precise, they were training martial arts.

But their methods were far too extreme. Though not clearly visible, each time the innkeeper and the chef clashed, a deafening boom rang out, and each time the two waiters struck fists, the air itself shuddered violently.

Officials and scholars passing by also stopped in their tracks, startled, and stared at the scene.

“What kind of ploy is this…”

Lee Seowon muttered in bewilderment.

It was clear this was intentional, but he couldn’t grasp what their aim was.