Chapter 42
A month later.
Hoo...
Hah... Why did we decide to come this way? The path is clearly treacherous...
What choice do we have? If these goods are robbed like last time, our lives are over. To avoid Bandits, we have to take paths others don't see.
Kim Mun and Ha Ryang.
The two merchants were embarking on an arduous trade journey from Anhui to Hunan.
The two were merchants tasked with supplying trinkets, but what was unusual was that they were taking an untrodden path, not the one others used.
This was due to the failure of their previous trade journey.
On that last journey, where they had invested most of their fortune, they had encountered bandits and been completely stripped of their goods.
They had barely managed to save their lives, but they had lost so much then.
If they were to meet Bandits again, this time it would truly be ruin. There would be no chance of recovery.
That's why the two from Anhui were prioritizing safety over speed, taking the longest possible route.
Especially since Hunan is a frontier region, public security was clearly looser than in the central regions, so they proceeded with caution.
Tsk... If I'd known this, I would have hired at least one Warrior before we set out.
Where would we get the money to hire a Warrior? And... I suspect that in Hunan, even one Martial Artist might not be enough.
What do you mean?
Kim Mun asked, puzzled, and Ha Ryang replied.
A month ago, I overheard a rumor in an Inn... that there's an enormous Bandit in Hunan. His title... is it *Bandit King*?
H-heek... *Bandit King*?
Exactly! How vicious must a man be to earn the title of *Bandit King*? I heard this a month ago, so by now, his infamy must have spread even further.
Hoo... This is quite something. Your warning to be more careful in Hunan wasn't for nothing, I see. Still...
Kim Mun pointed at the branches and vines constantly blocking their path and spoke.
...Isn't this a bit too much? We can't possibly get through this path.
Just bear with it a little longer... Ugh!
The moment Ha Ryang chided Kim Mun, who was complaining, and took a step forward...
Thud.
Unfortunately, it was an empty space covered with fallen leaves, and Ha Ryang's foot sank deeply, causing him to stumble.
Normally, he would just laugh it off and get back up, but the problem was that he was on a steep slope.
Crash!
Aargh!
H-hey!
Ha Ryang had no time to react and tumbled endlessly downwards. The unmaintained path was full of thorns and rocks, wounding Ha Ryang's body as he rolled.
And that wasn't all.
At the end of Ha Ryang's tumble was a boulder the size of a house; it was clear that if he hit it at his current speed, he would be severely injured.
Oh, what do we do...! H-how can we...?
Just as Kim Mun was stomping his feet in despair, watching the desperate situation unfold before his eyes...
Out of the way!
Whoosh!
A clear voice was heard from behind Kim Mun, and then a figure shot upwards.
Swish-swish!
He moved with such speed that Kim Mun could barely follow him with his eyes, rushing towards Ha Ryang, who was tumbling down the slope...
"Hmph!"
He grabbed Ha Ryang by the collar and, with a burst of Superhuman Strength, stopped Ha Ryang with just the power of his grip.
Hoo...
Admiring the sight, Kim Mun realized he was not an ordinary person but a Martial Artist who had learned Martial Arts.
Oh, right, this isn't the time for that!
Kim Mun, who had been momentarily mesmerized by his movements, quickly came to his senses and rushed towards Ha Ryang.
Ha Ryang, are you alright?
Ugh... My whole body aches, but I'm alright... Thanks to this gentleman's help...
At Ha Ryang's words, Kim Mun put down his luggage, performed a Cupped Fist Salute, and bowed his head to the Martial Artist. Ha Ryang also quickly dusted himself off, stood up, and paid his respects in the same manner.
Thank you, Great Hero. Thanks to you, my friend's life was saved.
Thank you. Great Hero, you are my Benefactor.
Haha, it's nothing. Protecting Muak Mountain is my duty, after all.
At the sight of the Martial Artist in his neat martial robes and with a kind face, the two men breathed a sigh of relief.
However...
"Protecting the mountain, you say? That's a noble deed."
You could say that. Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Dongryong, the Deputy Leader of the Green Forest Twenty Strongholds.
...Pardon?
Hearing Dongryong's introduction, they couldn't help but freeze.
Green Forest, you say?
If it's Green Forest, aren't they Bandits? He looks so proper, but he's a Bandit...?
And if he's a Bandit...
“Did he save us just to steal our luggage?”
Even though their lives were saved, the two felt a sense of dismay. They had witnessed his skill earlier, so they had no will to resist.
Kim Mun's hands trembled as he handed the luggage he was carrying to Dongryong.
Th-this is half of what we have. Please, just take this and have mercy on the rest... If we lose everything again this time, we'll truly die...
In truth, offering half meant enduring a huge loss, but it was better than losing everything. But then...
Haha, why are you doing this? We are not people who steal such things.
...Pardon?
...No, a Bandit isn't someone who steals such things...?
...Then what kind of people are they?
While Kim Mun and Ha Ryang stood dumbfounded, Dongryong pointed east and spoke.
If you go about two *li* to the east, you'll find a Mountain Path we've maintained. You'll be able to travel quickly and comfortably along it.
Does a maintained Mountain Path... exist?
Yes, but we do charge a toll fee.
...A toll fee.
They flinched at the mention of a toll fee, but it was still better than having all their luggage stolen.
...Then, can we pay the toll fee now?
No, if you follow the path I told you about, you'll come across a Pavilion. You can pay there and travel safely. I'd like to explain more, but I must go patrol the rest of my area...
...Ah, yes. Please go quickly. We apologize for taking up your time.
Then, farewell.
Whoosh!
With that, the Bandit (?) named Dongryong used his Lightness Skill and swiftly darted away.
The two men stared blankly at his retreating figure until Kim Mun spoke first.
...A Mountain Path, you say? Should we try it just once?
...Yes, let's go.
So, with a feeling of 'we'll fall for it just this once,' the two headed east, and after walking exactly two *li*...
There really is a path...?
They found a clean, well-maintained Mountain Path.
It was no exaggeration to say the path was impeccably maintained. The smooth, polished ground had no vines, not even a speck of dust or a pebble.
Furthermore, stairs had even been installed in steep sections to ensure safe passage, so it couldn't be said that it wasn't well-maintained.
After walking only treacherous paths, walking here feels like a Peach Blossom Spring!
Indeed. ...Still, let's be careful. We don't know what price someone might demand for this comfortable path...
Of course, naturally.
The two seasoned Merchants instinctively felt that such kindness could not possibly be free, so they proceeded cautiously, wary of their surroundings.
And after walking a short distance, they discovered something else.
That is...
...An Inn?
It was an Inn on a Mountain Ridge like this. It was unbelievable, but the Pavilion before them clearly looked like an Inn building.
They didn't know if it offered Guest Rooms, but with people eating and drinking on the wide-open first floor, the two felt as if they had descended into a city.
As if enchanted, they approached, only to be stopped by someone.
Wait, stop.
...Huh.
The ones who stopped them were two men sitting in front of the Inn's entrance: one was remarkably handsome, like a male courtesan, and the other was a young man with an innocent, kind-looking face.
The man who looked like a male courtesan extended his hand and spoke kindly.
You'll need to show your toll pass.
A toll pass? We don't have one...
You don't have a toll pass? Ah... I suppose you joined the path midway. You need a toll pass to use this road.
Only then did the two recall what the Bandit they had met earlier had said.
“Yes, but we do charge a toll fee.”
Surely, to get a toll pass, we have to pay a toll fee?
Of course, naturally.
Ugh, how much is it?
To determine the amount, we first need to see your luggage. Come, place it on this table.
Since the man's words carried no malice or greed, the two placed their luggage on the table without suspicion.
The man untied it, inspected its contents, and then spoke.
Hmm... So you're merchants dealing in trinkets and accessories. I'll charge three silver *nyangs* for this much...
Three silver *nyangs*?
Three silver *nyang*. That was by no means a small sum.
Isn't that price too high?
As Kim Mun was about to protest, the man smiled and slowly countered.
Mister. If you sold all these trinkets and accessories here, you'd get about fifty silver *nyang*, wouldn't you?
Th-that's right.
If you were to lose all of this, you'd lose fifty silver *nyang*. But if you pay just three silver *nyang* now and receive the toll pass we provide, you can safely use all the Mountain Paths in Hunan Province. That's a profit of forty-seven silver *nyang*. Am I wrong?
Uh... is that so?
While Kim Mun hesitated, the man immediately continued.
From the moment you receive the toll pass, your safety is guaranteed by our Green Forest Twenty Strongholds. You're securing your safety for just three silver *nyang*. Merchants usually hire many Warriors when they travel, don't they? Hiring a Warrior starts at a minimum of ten silver *nyang*. Wouldn't it be better to just pay three silver *nyang* and get a toll pass instead?
...
...Oh, is that so?
Indeed, many Merchants hired Warriors to travel safely, but this required a very high price.
That's why the two of them couldn't hire a Warrior when they first set out.
But... they're saying we can travel safely on the Hunan Mountain Paths for just three silver *nyang*? And on such a comfortable path, no less...?
While the two pondered, the man added another remark.
The man pointed to a man enjoying drinks at a wide, open table in broad daylight and spoke.
And do you see that comfortable-looking Mister over there? That Mister is a Merchant who sells silk, and since he seems wealthy, we collected five silver *nyang* from him. How Fair and Just is this method of collecting different toll fees according to the Wealth Gap?
Ah...
...Is that so?
Before they knew it, the phrase “just three silver *nyang*” had formed in their minds.
Ugh, we'll pay the three silver *nyang*.
A wise decision. I'll give you the toll passes now. What are your names?
I am Kim Mun, and this friend is Ha Ryang.
Kim Mun... and Ha Ryang. Such fine names.
The man took out two toll passes from his sleeve, wrote his name on each, and offered them.
Here are your toll passes, now please give me six silver *nyangs*.
Six *nyangs*? Didn't you just say three *nyangs*?
It's three *nyang* per person.
As the man spoke slyly, Ha Ryang, feeling tricked, raised his voice and said.
No, you should have said that earlier! Aren't you deliberately trying to trick us by telling us late?
Even six silver *nyang* is more advantageous than losing all your luggage or hiring a Warrior, isn't it?
...
Uh...
I-is that so...?
The man's words were not wrong, so even though they felt somewhat tricked, the two each took out three silver *nyang* from their pockets.
The man, watching with satisfaction, handed the toll passes to the two and said:
Thank you for using our service. Please note that once you exit our Mountain Path, the pass cannot be reused. Please use our service again next time. There are dozens of these Pavilions throughout Hunan Province, so you just need to show your toll pass each time you pass one.
...Understood.
Ah, and just a word of caution, as there are sometimes people like this...
Up until now, the man had maintained a friendly demeanor. This time, too, he spoke with a smile, but...
...If, by any chance, you're caught secretly using the path we've maintained without paying, you'll have to pay a thousand times the original toll fee.
The look in the man's eyes at that moment contained a firm resolve to uphold this promise.