Having prepared the carriage, Jong Ri-heon was excited.
The young fortune teller, unlike the cheap ones who reeked of fakeness, was an unusual one.
He had amazing powers of observation that made proper conclusions just by looking at them. A decent fortune teller would have made him think of them as some savior, but this kid did not. So he held more faith in him.
‘I will introduce you to a strong warrior who cannot even be touched.’
And such a boy spoke of some warrior as he assured them. The words themselves made him feel so nice.
It was to be a strong warrior who hid himself in Kangho. He couldn’t help but feel excited when such a person was going to come here. Apparently it was just a while back.
“Ah, I couldn’t even eat anything in the morning. Nomnom.”
And there was a man with a rice ball in hand as he chewed on it. He must have just woken up from bed considering his hair was a mess and his mouth had traces of saliva still.
Well, they were eccentric and did not seem to care about the eyes of the world, so they were just doing what they wanted, but there was something which bothered him.
Their blade—
It was not worn around the waist or over the shoulder, but they picked it up with one hand and climbed into the carriage. Not only that, but as soon as the person got onto the carriage, their blade was thrown to the side.
Was it not always said that warriors considered weapons as an extension of their body? But such a righteous spirit could not be understood by him.
“Brother…”
Jong Rimi also seemed to have similar thoughts and their expression was hardened.
Looking into her eyes, it seemed like her distrust over this had grown a great deal.
Is it him?
Jong Ri-heon looked to the other side when someone else came, at the skinny guy who got onto the carriage.
The man who came out wearing a blue robe which was made from blue silk at least looked decent.
But he also had problems.
His body is… weak.
Although he was tall, his face, skin, and bones—it was almost like the man had starved himself for months and he seemed like he would fall over from any stray hit.
Is he even having basic meals?
Jong Ri-heon’s thoughts were also correct.
Seol-Hwi had not eaten for over 15 days as he had been dealing with the growth of his body.
So, he was in a very peaceful situation with the shaking carriage and finding stability, but he could not help but worry when other people who did not know the situation looked at him.
“I… the warrior?”
Jong Rimi could not stand it anymore and looked at Songhwa.
A person who looks like he will collapse from a single a hit, and a person who eats like a beggar—
No matter how much she looked at it, she did not understand what the situation was, so to clear up her doubts she went to ask.
“Him.”
When Songhwa pointed to Imugi who was munching on the rice balls, the gazes of the man and woman changed bizarrely. He had concerned eyes mixed with shock and loneliness.
Then, Imugi who read the atmosphere responded in a proud manner,
“Do not worry. Since I was born I’ve never lost to anyone other than my former master and current master.”
Frown
It might have been a statement based on facts, but Jong Rimi did not like it.
Jong Ri-heon was still hopeful so he asked,
“But has there been anyone who you recently beat?”
Jong Ri-heon liked to study a lot.
But with the atmosphere in the family changing from books to martial arts, he tried to memorize all the information on the plains.
So now he was proud of knowing more about warriors.
That is why he asked the man.
If it was a warrior with even a little bit of a reputation in society, he would know everything about them.
“Cough, water, water…”
But at that time, Imugi choked on the rice ball and hurriedly waved his hand.
Jong Rim frowned more at this and she handed him a bottle on the side.
Gulp gulp
“Kya…”
Imugi looked like he might survive after a drink.
He slowly opened his mouth as if he finally recognized the two.
“Come to think of it, a fight broke out a few days back in the Red Light district No. 7. It was because the guy with pads on their shoulders began to start it. I asked him who he was and he said he was from the Holy Sword Clan.”
“Holy Sword Clan?”
At those words Jong Ri-heon’s face brightened
The Holy Sword Clan was a famous one in Hangzhou. And they were said to have multiple branches in the area.
“…You, fought?”
Seol-Hwi, who was next to him, frowned and asked Imugi.
“No. I just pretended like I would fight and ran away. Nothing good comes from causing trouble right?”
“You did good. Let’s hope you hold that attitude in the future too.”
“I will.”
Imugi answered and looked ahead.
“…”
“…”
The two people of the Jong Family were silent. It felt like they were interested in the words “ran away” in a different sense.
At this strange atmosphere, Songhwa said,
“I heard that two of the three warriors were already invited?”
To that Jong Ri-heon awkwardly said,
“…Yes. That is correct.”
“May I know who?”
At the question, Jong Ri-heon caught his breath. He realized that he had two more chances if this guy didn’t work.
“One is Seok Jong. Do you know them?”
“I don’t.”
At those words, Songhwa titled his head.
Jong Ri-heon turned to the skinny but good tempered man but he did not seem to care.
Despite such a reaction, Jong Ri-heon didn’t look disappointed. Rather, he spoke without hiding his pride,
“I guess so. He said that his name was not well known yet. Actually, Seol Jong was not someone who likes to go out. He is a disciple of the Shaolin Sect who just came down the mountain.”
“Shaolin…”
Imugi seemed interested for now.
Whether it was under the mountain or not, if one is a disciple of the Shaolin Sect, then he has to be someone with a clear level of skills over other warriors.
On the other hand, the clarity of Jong Ri-heon could be guessed. Would it not be safe to bring the best sect’s people?
“Who is the other?”
When Songhwa asked, he answered,
“Ju Ya-seong.”
“And he is?”
“A paid one… someone who receives money through contract. It has been quite tough to meet him.”
“Contract… an assassin?”
“He goes by many names. On our side, we call him a contractor.”
“Tch. If he is a person who kills people by contract, whatever you call him won’t change things…”
Imugi, who let his mouth run wild, noticed their eyes on him.
“Haha. I see.”
Although they did give an explanation, it was not thorough, and the expression of Jong Ri-heon seemed even stiffer now.
It was not like many were around, but the words they had said made him feel like his information was not being valued, and the more he spoke now, the more it would come out as an excuse giver.
“That…”
It was then.
Jong Ri-heon and Jong Rimi turned to the skinny man who had not said anything yet.
“What I mean to say… please do not misunderstand this…”
At Seol-Hwi’s cautious words, they naturally turned to him.
“The compensation for this job, money is fine but can you think of something else?”
“What would you like?”
“Like a pill or elixir, something not easily found, or a well known art is also fine. I think it would be better if it was a martial art of the Wudang Sect. Ah, of course a higher one would be better…”
At Seol-Hwi’s words, Jong Rimi shut her mouth.
We got fooled, fooled.
Disappointment kept welling up in her. They were a warrior who did not know that the party hiring for them should not be asked to have their reward changed to their liking.
But now this man wanted an elixir? This was a demand that a third rate warrior would ask for. And now she resented her brother.
The distance from Hangzhou to Shaoxing is about 150 li.
And it would take an entire day to move by carriage. It was a distance that was possible in that timeframe because they would switch to another wagon on the way. That said, they split up into two wagons.
Of course, the reason was that it was burdensome to look at each other.
“Phew.”
After arriving at the house, Songhwa got off the carriage and could not keep his mouth shut at the scene that was now before him.
“Woah…”
An exclamation came out of both his and Imugi’s mouths.
It was a huge house which seemed like it could fit a hundred people, and it had huge paths connected to the side of the house for water.
It was a house with a structure one would not normally see.
“This looks like a working place?”
After passing through the main gate, the building which stood tall came into view.
Inside the place there was a waterplace, and something covered in cloth was there.
“Seems to be yeast. Shaoxing alcohol is known to be quite a famous local speciality, right?”
Songhwa answered that as he knew about it.
“It is the hometown of Shaoxing. Indeed a place of great wealth and this is where the fight is happening.”
Even Imugi sounded shocked.
Seol-Hwi, who was one step behind, had a completely different idea.
Can this be put in the toolbox?
He wondered what would happen if the Shaoxing alcohol could be placed inside. He wondered if he could get drunk or it would end right before being drunk.
“Brother…”
On the other hand, Jong Rimi got off the wagon with a worried face.
Looking at the reactions of the people they brought, they could see that these were not skilled people but bums from the road.
They looked like people who came to enjoy this trip.
“Do not worry, I heard that there are some people in Kangho who are obsessed with training in isolation so that they don’t ever come out.”
Jong Ri-heon told her.
Although his expectations had been reduced, they were still people the famous young fortune teller brought.
It would be foolish to jump to conclusions without seeing their skills.
“It is too much to say that… they trained in seclusion.”
Jong Rimi almost gave up her expectations to the extent that perhaps everyone could see it after seeing these new people going after alcohol.
“Kya…”
“Oh! This tastes amazing?!”
“Songhwa. I heard you can have it at your age.”
Seeing this, Jong Ri-heon’s expression hardened.
“You are here, young master?”
Just in time, an old man approached with a bright face.
It was because he was the general, Jong Jusam, who handled the minor affairs of the family.