Chapter 45
“What? You sell alcohol by the bottle...?”
“Why is the Jukyeopcheong so expensive?”
“Why is that fellow so friendly today...?”
“Why us...?”
The Merchants at the next table kept muttering with aggrieved looks, so the Spy, flustered, asked the man.
“Why are those people acting like that...?”
“Ahaha... indeed. Why *are* they like that...?”
The man also seemed flustered by this...
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
...and in that instant, he turned towards the Merchants’ table with a menacing expression.
*Did I see that wrong...?*
The man’s face had clearly seemed friendly at first, but the expression he showed when he turned was no different from a demon’s.
Soon after... the man whispered something else to the Merchants...
“It’s all settled. It seems they made a slight mistake due to being drunk. My apologies if you were offended.”
“...No, it’s fine.”
...Suddenly, the next table fell silent in an instant.
*It must be my imagination...?*
Surely that friendly-looking man wouldn’t have threatened them.
The Spy dismissed it as his imagination and poured himself some Jukyeopcheong, which had been placed before him, to taste.
“Oh.”
And he was a little surprised.
Although he wasn’t a connoisseur of alcohol, even his unrefined palate could tell that the Jukyeopcheong tasted subtly different from usual.
Observing his expression, the man approached with a gentle smile.
“Does the alcohol suit your taste?”
“The Jukyeopcheong... tastes subtly different from what I know. It’s excellent, isn’t it?”
“Haha, I’m glad it suits your taste. It’s rewarding to have specially brought good quality alcohol.”
“Specially brought good quality alcohol...?”
When the Spy asked, puzzled, the man fidgeted shyly and said,
“Actually... my Father was also a Merchant, just like you, Sir.”
“And?”
“My Father enjoyed stopping at Inns for a drink while traveling on business. But, as you know, Hunan Province originally has many mountains and rough roads, so there weren’t any Inns along the way, were there?”
“That’s right.”
Before he knew it, the Spy found himself engrossed in the man’s story, even nodding along.
Encouraged by the Spy’s response, the man’s story continued smoothly.
“But then one day, a thoughtful and warm-hearted individual created a Mountain Path for Merchants in Hunan Province, didn’t they? I seized the opportunity and came here, receiving the authority to manage one of these Pavilions. I intend to dedicate my body and soul here, for Merchants who are like my own Father.”
“Hmm... I see.”
Judging by the man’s face, which showed no trace of greed, and the reasonably priced, delicious alcohol, everything he said now felt sincere.
“Is the general opinion of the person who created this Mountain Path favorable?”
“Of course. Everyone reveres them.”
“The prices here seem low. Is it the same at other Pavilions?”
“Of course, the prices are standardized across all Pavilions.”
“Hmm... the toll fee was expensive, but... this place will be incredibly beneficial for Merchants.”
In fact, the Spy thought they should be charging even more.
A path made easy to travel, Pavilions for rest along the way. And good quality, reasonably priced alcohol to enjoy at the Pavilions. And the Attendants were even friendly...
*No matter how I look at it, raiding a place like this would bring more harm than good.*
With that, the Spy inwardly made a positive assessment and drained his last cup. Then he rose from his seat to thoroughly inspect the remaining areas.
“Oh, are you leaving already?”
“It’s getting late... I should be going soon.”
“Yes, then please travel safely. Do come again next time.”
“Yes, I’ll come again next time.”
Of course, there was no reason to visit again unless he had an additional mission, but the Spy packed his belongings after giving a vague affirmative answer.
And just in case, he turned back and asked the man one last question.
“By any chance, what is your name?”
“...My name? Uh... hmm... My name is... Bangsam.”
“...I’m sure the person I met at the first Pavilion was also named Bangsam.”
“...Not Bangsam, but Bang Sang. Bangsam is my Elder Brother. Haha... it seems you’ve exchanged names with my brother as well.”
“Brothers, were they...?”
Thinking that the brothers didn’t resemble each other at all, the Spy tried to recall the name Bang Sang in his mind.
However, no matter how hard he thought, the name Bang Sang was not among the Murim Public Enemies or criminals.
*Clean, indeed.*
...Completely unaware that the other person had given him a different name, he simply waved his hand and set off on his journey again.
And in the end, he failed to recall that he had seen the man’s face on a Wanted Poster before.
**
Just as the new guest turned his back and departed, Youngest, who had briefly gone to the Mountain Stronghold, returned.
Youngest watched his receding figure, which was becoming a mere speck, and asked me,
“That’s a new face. Was he a new guest?”
“Hmm... no. He’s not a guest. He’s a Spy. Probably a Murim Alliance Spy.”
“...Huh? A Spy? How did you know that? I didn’t feel anything at all.”
“The problem is precisely that you didn’t feel anything...”
“Pardon?”
Martial Artists who learn Cultivation Methods and accumulate Internal Energy can feel a strong aura flowing even when they are still. That doesn’t mean ordinary people have no aura at all.
*Life force (Saenggi)*.
Even in an ordinary person’s body, a faint aura flows. It’s just so subtle that most people can’t feel it, but I can.
But the guest who just left...
“His *life force* was unstable. That usually happens to people on the verge of death or the sick, but as you can see, he’s perfectly healthy, isn’t he? It’s obvious. The Spy was so overly focused on erasing his own aura that he even masked his *life force*.”
Of course, that alone wasn’t enough to be certain; there were several other clues.
Although he tried to conceal it with his clothes, his firm muscles were clearly visible, his gaze was definitely not that of a Merchant, and most importantly...
*“Have we... perhaps met before?”*
Murim Alliance Spies memorize the Wanted Posters of Murim Public Enemies and various criminals.
“He probably saw my Wanted Poster.”
My Wanted Poster, distributed by the Shanxi Yu Clan.
The first thing I asked for after getting the ring from the Haomun Leader, before leaving, was to retrieve all the Wanted Posters of me that had spread throughout the market.
However, Haomun’s influence probably didn’t reach the Murim Alliance. The Spy likely saw my Wanted Poster at the Murim Alliance Headquarters.
*It’s a relief he didn’t recognize me.*
Since it was the Shanxi Yu Clan alone that put out the bounty on me, not the Murim Alliance, the Spy probably didn’t pay much attention to it and moved on. Thanks to that, the Spy didn’t recognize my face until the moment he left.
And not just that? Fortunately, the rascal came to the Pavilion where I was, so I could play a trick on him to some extent.
“Youngest.”
“Yes, Elder Brother.”
“Gather the fastest ones right now and send word to all Pavilions. Starting today, for seven days and nights, everything except the toll fee will be on special discount. Tell the Merchants who complain, “What”s going on?’ to be careful with their mouths, and to act as if we’ve been selling at these prices from the beginning.”
“Understood!”
After answering, Youngest immediately started running towards the Mountain Stronghold.
Since Youngest is excellent at Lightness Skill, it won’t take long for him to convey my message to all the Pavilions.
“Ah~, I’ve been worried all this time, but things are turning out this way.”
When the Spy left the Pavilion, his expression wasn’t bad. He was clearly evaluating our Mountain Path and Pavilions favorably in his heart.
“Now I can finally stretch out my legs and sleep soundly.”
With those words, I truly lay down on the floor. I had been working so hard physically all this time.
But now, it should be fine.
If that Spy reports well to the Murim Alliance, then the Murim Alliance will also be reassured and reduce their interest in us.
“As long as there are no major problems in between, it’s done...”
Although I unexpectedly encountered several incidents along the way, everything was resolved well, and the results were all good.
Now I have hundreds of *gwan* of gold in my pocket, and my Subordinates have multiplied like mushrooms after rain, reaching several hundred.
My sweet, rich life is finally beginning.
So, let’s just get through this one without any problems.
Please-!
I prayed inwardly like that and closed my eyes.
**
One week later.
Even after the Spy left, the daily life of the Green Forest Twenty Strongholds continued. In particular, the Entrance Pavilion where Bangsam was stationed was overflowing with people wanting to receive toll passes.
“Yes, next person.”
Bangsam couldn’t help but be dissatisfied.
*No, what am I doing right now...?*
At first, when the Subordinates increased, he felt really good. He had been Rank 3 of a Mountain Stronghold with only five people, but now he was Rank 3 of the Great Green Forest, which had hundreds of members in total.
But what was his situation now?
The Rank 3 of the Great Green Forest was nowhere to be seen; there was only a Mountain Path Attendant working hard.
“Sigh... look at my fate...”
Bangsam lamented his lot while attending to the endless stream of customers.
“Yes, next.”
And then...
“...Huh?”
“...”
“Y-you...”
Recognizing the familiar face standing before him, he couldn’t help but be astonished.