Chapter 115: Oh Jeong-san (1)
The hour before dawn broke.
Jang Gwang rose from his bed, straightened his clothes, and stepped outside.
Creak, thud.
The guestroom door opened, revealing a long hallway.
Jang Gwang was still not used to this sight.
The fact that he now worked as an inn waiter, and that he lived in a comfortable room inside the inn instead of a riverside shack, still felt strange.
But it did not feel all that bad.
The tranquility of the dawn, the sight of the inn freshly ventilated and pleasant from the night—it was good.
There were still two hours left before the morning business began.
In truth, there was no need to come to work this early. Just a few days ago, Jang Gwang had only arrived about half an hour early to do the cleaning…
‘Today as well.’
The moment Jang Gwang stepped into the inn, Seomun Ak also pushed the inn’s doors open and entered. Their gazes fiercely collided in the air.
Swaeak—!
Seomun Ak suddenly displayed his movement arts.
His target was the broom left in one corner of the inn.
Jang Gwang also dashed forward, unwilling to yield so easily.
Seomun Ak’s hand reached toward the broom first.
Jang Gwang struck his wrist harshly.
Clang—!
But as if expecting that, Seomun Ak pulled back his wrist lightly and at the same time thrust his other fist forward. A fist filled with distinct fist qi.
Kwaaaang—!
Jang Gwang crossed his arms to block it.
The clash between them continued after that.
It was always like this.
On the first day, Jang Gwang easily grabbed the broom.
Seomun Ak had not expected that Jang Gwang would come to work that early.
The next day, Seomun Ak came an hour earlier and finished the cleaning. And on the day after that, Jang Gwang came an hour and a half earlier.
It was as if… though no one had told them to, the two were competing to see who was the more diligent and capable inn waiter.
Their contest went on for more than an hour.
Sweat beaded on both their foreheads.
Since both were unusually large men, their stamina drained quickly.
Jang Gwang threw a punch infused with inner arts toward Seomun Ak, who charged once more at the broom.
‘Try dodging this!’
If the fellow dodged, he intended to seize the broom in that gap. Both instinctively knew that this one strike would decide the match.
Then it happened.
Instead of dodging, Seomun Ak increased his speed even more. At this rate, his face would be crushed by Jang Gwang’s fist.
In that instant, their gazes crossed in the air.
Seomun Ak suddenly burst out laughing.
This was not a fight to the death. More than that, if they injured each other with such fierce punches first thing in the morning, Jin Seong-un’s reaction upon arriving would be obvious.
Jang Gwang also realized this, and he had no choice but to withdraw his fist.
Smack. Seomun Ak seized the broom with the smile of a victor.
“Waaaaaah!!”
Seomun Ak lifted the broom high and let out a cheer. He looked as if he had just won the championship of the world’s greatest Later-generation Prodigies tournament. In contrast, Jang Gwang staggered, overwhelmed with a crushing sense of defeat.
The contrast between the two could not have been clearer.
Click. The back door opened, and Jin Seong-un stepped inside.
“……”
Jin Seong-un wore a bewildered expression for a moment.
The situation was easy enough to understand.
The second son of the Seomun Clan rejoiced greatly after seizing a broom, while the former leader of the Yangtze River Stronghold looked dejected for failing to get one.
Was this really right?
Such thoughts passed through his mind for a moment, but in the end, he nodded. After all, it meant both of them were earnest about their roles as inn waiters.
The fame of Yangha Daegu, its skillful cooking, and the inn’s splendor had quickly spread, and business was thriving by the day.
Most guests came for the food and drinks, though some also rented the rooms from time to time.
The majority used the cheapest Blue Flower Room, but compared to selling only food and drink, the profits were overwhelmingly higher.
After all, those who rented rooms inevitably ordered food and alcohol as well.
‘I truly have nothing to do.’
Before Jin Seong-un could even lift a finger, Seomun Ak and Jang Gwang were already competing to handle the tasks.
His daily routine consisted only of checking the rooms now and then and dropping by the kitchen to chat with the chefs.
It was then.
The curtain hanging at the entrance was pushed aside, and Oh Jeong-san entered the bustling inn.
For some reason, his face looked terribly haggard.
“Haha, business is thriving again today. Truly a fine thing.”
Though he looked worn out, he still showed a satisfied expression at the sight of Jin Seong-un’s flourishing business.
Oh Jeong-san soon settled into a seat and ordered liquor with a simple side dish.
When Jin Seong-un served the liquor, Oh Jeong-san spoke.
“Seong-un, have you had any trouble these days?”
“No, sir. As you can see, the new waiters are outstanding.”
Oh Jeong-san glanced at Jang Gwang.
Though some of the air of a former bandit still lingered, he was strong and handy enough to be reliable.
Jin Seong-un asked,
“But did something happen? It feels like I haven’t seen you for a while.”
Even his face looked terribly unwell.
Oh Jeong-san gave a bitter smile.
“Have you perhaps heard of the Merchant Festival?”
“Hmm.”
Jin Seong-un tried to recall. He had indeed heard of it, but the memory was faint.
Oh Jeong-san continued.
“It’s a grand festival of merchants from across the land. Once every three years, lasting about seven days and nights.”
“Ah.”
Jin Seong-un nodded, finally remembering.
Famous merchants from all over gathered at the Merchant Festival to strengthen ties and discuss important matters.
“This year, the Merchant Festival is to be held in Jingzhou. Naturally, our Jingzhou Merchants’ Association must make the preparations.”
Now Jin Seong-un understood why Oh Jeong-san looked so exhausted.
It was an event where the most renowned merchants from across the land gathered.
If the arrangements were poor or unimpressive compared to the previous festivals, criticism would be inevitable.
Trust was the greatest asset for a merchant.
If one lost trust at a gathering where all kinds of merchants assembled, the loss would be truly immense.
“You will have to prepare very thoroughly.”
Oh Jeong-san tilted his head in agreement as he downed his cup of liquor.
Then he spoke.
“Fortunately, the preparations are nearly finished. It will surely be a grand and joyous festival. Until now, I handled matters through my subordinates, but now it seems I must go to Jingzhou myself to check things.”
“Will you return afterwards?”
Oh Jeong-san shrugged his shoulders.
In truth, he had stayed too long in Yichang. However, since major incidents had kept occurring in Yichang recently, he had no pretext to leave.
Still, the true base of the Jingzhou Merchants’ Association was Jingzhou itself.
“I don’t know. Jingzhou and Yichang are not that far apart, so I may go back and forth from time to time.”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
It was a bit disappointing, but if necessary, he could always visit Jingzhou to meet him.
Then Oh Jeong-san gave him a sly smile and said,
“So then, Seong-un, would you not also join this Merchant Festival?”
“Yes?”
Jin Seong-un blinked.
When he had heard of the Merchant Festival during his days as an inn waiter, it had felt like something belonging to others. Even now, it did not feel much different.
Those who attended the Merchant Festival were usually men who operated great escort agencies or large trading companies.
Oh Jeong-san, watching his expression with amusement, continued.
“Think of the scale of Seong-un Inn. And consider the money you are making from various endeavors. Likely, half of the merchants at the festival will be smaller than you.”
Jin Seong-un suddenly realized how much his circumstances had changed. Thinking about it, Seong-un Inn was one of the few large inns in the entire nation.
The revenue it generated easily exceeded ten times that of an ordinary inn.
On top of that, various membership fees from Yichang Trading District, as well as the costs arising from transactions between Hwa-un Trading Company and the Tang Clan, were steadily piling up as his share.
“Still… do innkeepers normally attend such places?”
“Normally, no. But if that innkeeper is the Guest Dragon, would the story not be different?”
Jin Seong-un coughed awkwardly. Even now, he still felt embarrassed when his alias came up out of nowhere.
Then Oh Jeong-san said,
“It will surely be a good opportunity for you. Perhaps the Ten Great Trading Companies will not attend, but at least many among the Hundred Great Merchants will. To converse with them and form ties—would that not be a pleasant thing?”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
From the perspective of an innkeeper, meeting various merchants was certainly interesting.
The problem was the inn’s current situation.
Jin Seong-un glanced around.
Seomun Ak and Jang Gwang were working furiously, yet still glaring at each other whenever possible.
‘Will it be alright?’
For now, it was Jin Seong-un who restrained them. If he left, he worried the two might break into a fight.
Oh Jeong-san, also watching the scene, remarked casually,
“Hmm, it is indeed a difficult situation. Well, the Merchant Festival is not only held this year. If circumstances allow, come. In any case, I will send you an invitation before it begins.”
“Understood.”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
From the very first day he had settled in Yichang until now, Oh Jeong-san had been the one to witness everything at his side, to experience it with him, and to lend his help.
Alongside No Sang-won, he was one of the very few with whom Jin Seong-un could truly relax and speak comfortably.
Oh Jeong-san met his eyes, nodded, then added with a small laugh,
“By the way, you would do well to take down the congratulatory banners soon. In a few days, those who come will be very sensitive about matters concerning power and influence.”
After finishing his meal, Oh Jeong-san left the inn with a much lighter expression, and Jin Seong-un followed his advice, taking down the congratulatory banners.
Of course, he did not forget to send letters of gratitude to the Wudang Sect, the Seomun Clan, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, the Namgung Clan, and the Murim Alliance, all of whom had sent the banners.
.
.
.
A few days later.
Jin Seong-un was realizing firsthand just how great an event the Merchant Festival was.
“How much is your most expensive room?”
A middle-aged man asked abruptly after entering the inn.
It was the fourth time today he had heard such a question.
As merchants from all over the land converged on Jingzhou, Seong-un Inn in Yichang was also reaping the benefits.
“Our most expensive room is the Gold Flower Room, but it is already taken. Only one Silver Flower Room remains just below it.”
The merchant’s expression twisted strangely.
Merchants were proud people. Especially when money was involved.
The man glanced around. He spotted some familiar faces and others he did not know but who were obviously merchants.
For a man of his standing, taking a lower-ranked room than the others was an insult to his pride.
Sensing this, Jin Seong-un added,
“As it happens, the young master of the Seomun Clan just vacated that very room this morning.”
The merchant’s eyes lit up.
Then the matter was different.
What did it matter if it was gold or silver? The fact that the room had just been used by the bloodline of the Seomun Clan elevated its value.
This was not a loss of face, but rather something that enhanced his own worth.
“Haha, excellent! I’ll take that room.”
The merchant laughed heartily and entered the room.
Jin Seong-un clicked his tongue. It was not a lie. Indeed, until that morning, the room had belonged to Seomun Ak.
Though he normally stayed elsewhere, Seomun Ak had recently begun eating and sleeping at the inn to save time, due to his ongoing competition with Jang Gwang.
But when the rooms became fully occupied, he had no choice but to leave.
Jin Seong-un looked around at the bustling inn. Out of ten guests, eight were merchants.
Money, people, business…
Conversations only merchants could have filled the inn.
Then, suddenly, an interesting piece of gossip reached his ears. Though they lowered their voices as if whispering, they could not escape Jin Seong-un’s senses.
“Have you heard the rumor? They say Oh Jeong-san might suffer a very public humiliation at this Merchant Festival.”