"It'll take a while since it's just me."
"Take your time."
When Hyeol-u handed over the money without fuss, the aristocrats apparently lost interest and turned back to their own conversation.
Hyeol-u and So-i listened in silence.
"Go on with that story."
"It's only been three years since the iron mines at Ma'anshan were first developed. New mines are still being opened up all the time."
The young man in yellow, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
From the way he picked up the thread, the group must have been discussing this before entering the inn.
"Haha, and that's why our Sanggwan Clan recently invested a substantial sum. And we intend to continue doing so."
'The Sanggwan Clan?'
A towering presence in the northern martial world, operating merchant guilds and escort agencies out of Luoyang in Henan.
"Gentlemen, let's not forget that all of this is thanks to the Danri Clan."
"Of course! The Danri Clan's intelligence network rivals even the Beggars' Sect. Plenty of sects have benefited from that intelligence."
'The Danri Clan too.'
Based in Fengyang in Southern Zhili, the Danri Clan was a newly risen house barely decades old, having built its power through a robust intelligence network and martial force.
"So, has Miss Ran's Jegal Clan made a decision yet?"
'Oh ho, so that snippy young beauty is a scion of the Jegal Clan.'
That made the count up to four — including Hyeol-u from the Namgung Clan — four of the martial world's great clans gathered in this small, near-empty inn.
'Now this is amusing.'
From what they were saying, the Danri Clan had been the first to begin developing the iron mines.
After drawing in the Sanggwan Clan, they were now courting the Jegal Clan for the investment.
But the next thing they said brought Hyeol-u's thoughts to a dead halt.
"The Namgung Clan has been taking a large share of the profits lately. Our elders would like the Jegal Clan to acquire that prime stake."
A power struggle over the mining rights.
Forging alliances, intermarrying, jointly annihilating enemies — and occasionally exchanging blows. Factions forming and breaking apart.
That was the martial world — where the political landscape shifted constantly with every shift in interests.
A minor clash of interests could suddenly erupt into full-scale war.
A single small sect might produce an extraordinary talent and rise to the very center of the martial world, becoming a dominant power.
That was why titles like "Ten Great Masters," "Ten Great Swordsmen," and "Ten Great Fist Masters" served as markers of the strength and influence of the clans and sects they hailed from.
Even the current Five Great Clans of the martial world — the Moyong Clan, the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Jegal Clan, the Hebei Peng Clan, and the Namgung Clan — had all been forged through exactly such cycles of fracture and fusion.
"So how large is the Namgung Clan's stake?"
"One-fifth."
"What? That's the same as our Sanggwan Clan?"
At some point, the three of them had begun speaking low enough for only each other to hear.
But Hyeol-u heard every word as clearly as if they were whispering in his ear, and he had identified all their names.
"With one-fifth...... how much revenue does that bring in?"
When the young beauty — Jegal Su-ran — casually inquired, the eyes of Sanggwan Hyeok and Danri Myeong met, and the corners of their mouths turned up ever so slightly.
They had finally succeeded in catching the Jegal Clan's interest.
The current head of the Jegal Clan was All-Knowing Patriarch Jegal Dae-hwi.
Jegal Su-ran's grandfather, who was rumored to dote so fiercely on his one and only granddaughter that he would spare no expense and go to any lengths to give her whatever she wanted.
That devotion, naturally, sometimes crossed the line.
'I see! So that's what this is......'
A shrewd light flickered in Hyeol-u's eyes.
It was something any denizen of the martial world would have recognized.
The Sanggwan and Danri clans had sent two presentable young men of the right age to charm Jegal Su-ran.
Push out the Namgung Clan, and bring the Jegal Clan in to replace them.
"It should be approximately one thousand nyang of silver per month."
"Oh my? That's impressive."
That amount would cover roughly a tenth of the Jegal Clan's total annual operating costs, including wages.
Jegal Su-ran, who had always taken a keen interest in her clan's finances, began to show a distinctive spark in her eyes.
'And those bastards are claiming all the investment money was lost — it's a swindle!'
"Your food is ready."
The owner emerged carrying dishes with both hands and set them down before the aristocrats with a bow.
A while later.
"Fine. Let's go take a look at the mine while we're here."
"Of course! Right this way."
With Jegal Su-ran's words, the three rose from their seats.
Sanggwan Hyeok paid for the meal.
Then, for some reason, Jegal Su-ran threw Hyeol-u a brief glance before stepping outside.
CLANK, CLANK—!
With a rough clatter, the food was finally set down in front of Hyeol-u and So-i.
Broth sloshed over the rim.
So-i, his face still sour, lifted the bowl and practically poured the noodles into his mouth.
He was that hungry.
It stirred a pang of sympathy in Hyeol-u.
"Here, take this."
He pushed his half-eaten bowl across to So-i.
"Why? Aren't you eating?"
"Looks like you're still short."
"I'm fine. Even if I ate the rest, it wouldn't make a dent."
Just then, one of the burly men who had been watching the two of them rose from his corner table.
A middle-aged man in his mid-forties, with a square jaw and a generous smile.
He had a good face.
"Haha, looks like you two are short on funds. Hey, owner! Get these young fellows two double-portions of noodles."
'There it is. Hooked.'
Hyeol-u allowed himself a quiet, triumphant smile.
Nothing in this world was free, and kindness without reason always came with a price.
"N-no, we're fi......"
"Nonsense. They say all within the four seas are comrades on the same road. Even brushing sleeves makes a bond — and here we are, strangers sharing the same inn and the same meal. Don't be burdened by it."
"Oh, well, thank you so much. We couldn't be more grateful. So-i, eat up."
Hyeol-u deliberately urged So-i to eat quickly.
When they had finished their meal, the man finally got to the point.
"Are you two here looking for work, by any chance?"
"Yes. Our parents are bedridden, and our younger siblings can barely keep food on the table......"
"My, what a filial son. That's the way it should be. But what about this big fellow......?"
So-i's impressive build was apparently raising suspicions.
"Oh, he's a cousin. His family is dirt poor too. He may look fleshy, but the truth is he's been so malnourished he can't pass a proper stool — the toxins have built up and made him bloated."
"Oh dear...... that's a shame. Well, if you're here looking for work, then this is a fortunate meeting."
At that, the second man — a fellow in his thirties — smiled with his eyes.
He was the polar opposite of the first: a sharp, inverted-triangle face with hatchet eyes.
"Ah, let me introduce myself. I'm Jang Bo, and this is Geo Ryang."
"Pleased to meet you."
"Hello."
"Good, good. If you're done eating, follow me. With the mines expanding, they need a lot of hands. I'll set you up with a job that's easier and pays better."
"Hey, kids — our Brother Jang Bo here almost never offers this kind of goodwill. But it looks like he's really taken a liking to you two."
Goodwill.
Was there really anyone who would refuse goodwill?
No matter what anyone said, every human being fancied themselves clever and exceptional.
The paradoxical conviction that even if everyone they knew drowned, they alone would float to the surface and survive.
That was the exact psychology that swindlers exploited.
The massive smelters at the foot of the mountains.
The mining town, its chimneys belching black smoke ceaselessly.
The place the two men led them to was a shabby hut at the entrance to a valley, surrounded by scattered warehouse-like buildings.
"All right, wait here. I'll go have a word with the labor boss and set up some positions for you."
"Thank you, truly."
Jang Bo and Geo Ryang walked away with broad smiles.
"Young Master, what on earth was all that about?"
"What do you mean? They're finding us jobs."
"Why?"
"Why? Just sit tight. You don't think I'd actually sell you off, do you?"
"Huh? Ah, wait — are those men actually......?"
"Good, you've got it. Stay here a moment. I'm going to tail them and do a little reconnaissance."
As Hyeol-u grinned, So-i seemed relieved enough to sigh — then suddenly turned serious.
"Young Master...... you're not going to kill anyone, are you?"
"Why would I kill anyone? I might cripple them, but I don't kill. Do I really look that vicious to you?"
"Getting your pressure points sealed by you and ending up crippled — I'd rather just die."
So-i's lips jutted out in a pout.
Hyeol-u clapped him firmly on the shoulder.
"Don't worry, I won't cause a scene. Better to live rolling in a field of dung than to die."
'Is that supposed to be reassuring?'
So-i's face crumpled even further.
Hyeol-u shadowed the two men.
In the distance, Jang Bo and Geo Ryang moved nimbly up a low mountain trail.
'That level of agility — they've trained in martial arts.'
With that realization, the two thugs suddenly seemed a touch more formidable.
And finally, the timber building came into view.
The mine management office.
Set atop a level hillock, behind it stretched a deep ravine.
Before it, warehouse buildings dotted the low hills in neat rows.
The management office was a sizable structure. Inside, several people sat working at desks.
Jang Bo and Geo Ryang pushed open the wooden door and went in, then came back out with a crew-cut, heavyset man.
'Wait, I know that face.'
Hyeol-u recognized him.
A man he had occasionally seen in the exclusive family dining hall of the Namgung Clan.
'His name was Geum Dae-gi, if I recall.'
Not a formal member of the clan, but apparently someone dispatched on the Namgung Clan's orders.
The three of them headed for a room at the far end of the management office.
Several beds inside — it appeared to be a dormitory for mine workers.
Hyeol-u crept to the window of the room they had entered and pressed his ear close to catch the conversation.
"Hey, you're back? On a roll today, huh."
At Geum Dae-gi's words, Geo Ryang scratched his head and replied.
"Well, you know how it is! Even grasshoppers have their season — we've got to fill the empty spots while we can. The more we bring in, the bigger you can talk upstairs!"
"True, thanks to you two, the shipping costs are way down, and the backers are happy. So, how many this time?"
Like a crocodile and its plover bird.
A relationship of mutual benefit — scratching each other's itches.
"Two."
"Yeah? They're not like those kids from this morning — too young or too frail?"
"Don't worry. These two are tall and old enough. Both around twenty."
"Good, prime working age. No need for me to see them in person, right?"
"Of course not. Trust us. It's not like this is our first rodeo. Now, since the goods are solid this time, how about you sweeten the deal a bit......"
"Yeah, yeah."
Geum Dae-gi handed over a payment voucher, then issued a warning.
"But be careful. Right now, the higher-ups haven't caught on and we're all keeping quiet — but if this gets out, we're all finished. Every last head will roll."
"Boss, you think this is our first time? Don't worry. Well then, we'll be off!"
Jang Bo flapped the voucher like a fan, and the two of them sauntered out laughing.
Left alone, Geum Dae-gi muttered to himself.
"Ugh, I need to pull out of this before I have to look at those bastards again......"
"Then pull out. Stuffed yourself so full you can't move?"
"Ack, wh-who......?"
THUD.
The door closed and the air went cold.
"Th-the Third Young Master......?!"
THWACK, SNAP, SNAP, SNAP—!
Geum Dae-gi could say no more.
Hyeol-u's cane was dancing across every inch of his body.
"Gaaghk......"
SPLAT.
The beating raised enough dust to choke.
Geum Dae-gi could not even scream before he crumpled and slid under the bed.
Every joint in his body had been struck and wrenched from its socket — he could barely move anything above his neck.
"Ghhh, why......"
Hyeol-u propped one leg up on the bed and looked down at Geum Dae-gi with cold, predatory eyes.
"Did you just...... ask me 'why'? You don't know why you're being beaten?"
Hyeol-u sucked his lip and spoke.
"Tsk, can't be helped. Seems the beating wasn't enough. How about I snap all four of your limbs this time?"
If he had simply raged and screamed while beating him — like an empty cart making the most noise — it might have been better.
But those indifferent eyes regarded him the way one might look at a worm.
Geum Dae-gi's eyes rolled in abject misery as he looked up at Namgung Seong.
He scrambled to recall what he had said to Jang Bo and Geo Ryang just moments ago.
'Ah, is it because of that......?'
"P-please...... let me explain......"
"Explain what?"
Hyeol-u paused his warm-up and looked at Geum Dae-gi.
"The truth is, there's a reason we recruit people secretly...... Mine shafts collapse all the time — walls, ceilings caving in, floors giving way and burying the miners. The compensation for injuries and deaths of officially hired workers alone is enormous......"
"So you're saying the miners you recruit in secret — people like us — just die like dogs when accidents happen, with no compensation whatsoever?"
"W-well, that's......!"
CRACK, CRACK—!
Both of his kneecaps were wrenched around to face the wrong direction.