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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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After having arrived in Beijing, Namgung-Woo’s priority wasn’t visiting the Hao Clan or the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency.
It was something completely different.
“Mmm… this is remarkably… stable.”
It was a meal at an inn.
Determined to have Peking duck in Beijing, he’d led the Yang brothers on a quest for the perfect restaurant as soon as they’d entered the city.
It might seem presumptuous, but he wasn’t just picking any random inn.
His Transcendent Realm senses had sharpened his perception far beyond human limits.
He could practically taste the food just by smelling it.
After surveying several inns and street vendors, he’d chosen this particular inn, and his decision had been spot-on.
“The duck is good, but the black pepper beef is exceptional.”
“Not many places serve Peking duck. You found a good one, Boss.”
Despite its name, Peking duck actually originated in Nanjing.
It was a dish served in the Imperial Court, and its name had changed when the Yongle Emperor moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing.
As befitting a dish of the Imperial Court, it was both difficult to prepare and expensive, and ironically, more commonly found in Nanjing than Beijing.
Namgung-Woo ignored Yang Kwai’s comment and continued eating.
Meals were a sacred ritual for him.
One of the few joys he allowed himself in this strange, new world, so far removed from his own.
The boundless freedom of martial arts, transcending human limitations.
The vibrant flavors and textures of food, experienced through heightened senses.
These were the antidotes to the stress and anxieties that subtly accumulated within him and his only indulgences in this world.
In his original world, food had been mere sustenance.
While there were flavorful nutrient supplements and real food available, it all came at a high cost.
Virtual reality? Chu-rok Murim, being an early VR game, hadn’t fully implemented the sense of taste.
So, for him, every meal was a novel and delightful experience.
“Ah… that was satisfying.”
“Boss, I hate to say this after stuffing myself, but we’re going to run out of money if we keep eating like this.”
“We’re a mercenary group. We’ll just take on a few jobs.”
“Boss, this is Beijing.”
Namgung-Woo raised an eyebrow, and Yang Kwai, realizing his boss was still clueless about the ways of the world, explained.
“There are no martial arts factions in Beijing.”
“What about the Hao Clan?”
“Boss, the Hao Clan isn’t a martial arts faction. They’re more like merchants, buying information from courtesans, porters, coachmen, and then selling it.”
“So… no one hires mercenaries here.”
“Pretty much.”
Beijing.
The heart of Northern Zhili, ruled directly by the Emperor.
If Northern Zhili was the Emperor’s front yard, Beijing was his inner courtyard.
Who would dare cause trouble here?
The Embroidered Uniform Guard would swiftly and silently eliminate any such threat.
“There are martial artists here, but none are based in Beijing. Even the Peng Family moved to Tianjin when the Yongle Emperor moved the capital.”
It wasn’t that there were no wanderers.
The guards at the city gates had grumbled about more wanderers entering the city when Namgung-Woo and the Yang brothers had arrived.
But the work for wanderers wasn’t in Beijing; it was from Beijing.
Escort agencies and merchant caravans hired wanderers as guards for journeys departing the capital.
That was it.
Namgung-Woo mentally calculated his remaining funds.
‘I’ve spent quite a bit.’
His enhanced metabolism, combined with his carefree approach to spending, had taken its toll.
“Word about what happened in Wuan County has spread, hasn’t it?”
“It has.”
“If you hadn’t been hiding your identity, you’d have a few nicknames by now.”
Before leaving Wuan County, he’d asked Peng Mu-ho to keep his name out of it.
It wasn’t out of a desire for anonymity, but a sense of obligation.
“It was part of the deal.”
Instead of his own fame, the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency’s reputation had spread.
The story of an unnamed escort from the agency playing a key role in sealing the Ghost Gate had significantly boosted their credibility.
That was the proposal he’d made to Pyeong Cho-yul.
He’d essentially acted as a brand ambassador.
Pyeong Cho-yul had simply intended to repay Song Chae-ji’s favor by lending the agency’s name, but Namgung-Woo had taken his role seriously.
Very seriously.
“At least they won’t kick us out.”
The Yang brothers understood.
Their next destination was the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency.
“Let’s go.”
If they were out of money, they’d borrow some.
They had no collateral.
It was a loan based purely on trust.
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“Nam Woo, Fellow Martial Artist! I’ve been expecting you!”
Pyeong Cho-yul’s reaction was exuberant.
He almost jumped out to greet Namgung-Woo, his shoes barely on and arms wide open in welcome.
“You must be tired from your journey. Was the trip to Beijing comfortable? Haha, I have so much to tell you. Come in, come in!”
Tired from the journey?
Not really.
Namgung-Woo thought Pyeong Cho-yul was overreacting.
Finding the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency had been easy.
Asking around for escort agencies that had recently arrived from Shanxi had led him straight to them.
Still, it was gratifying to be greeted so warmly.
Inside, he saw familiar faces.
He exchanged brief greetings with the Yo-Pyeong escorts and gestured for the Yang brothers to follow.
Pyeong Cho-yul, the ever gracious host, turned toward them.
“Ah, are these Fellow Martial Artist Nam’s companions? Welcome! Anyone traveling with him is a guest of the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency!”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Much obliged.”
The Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency had rented the entire third and fourth floors of the inn.
As they climbed the stairs, Namgung-Woo exchanged pleasantries with Pyeong Cho-yul.
“Did your escort mission go smoothly, Pyeong…?”
“Oh, it went perfectly. So smoothly, in fact, that it wouldn’t make for a very interesting story. But you, Fellow Martial Artist! What a story you have! It’s been the talk of the town!”
“Has it really?”
Namgung-Woo had been discreetly listening for rumors about himself during his journey.
Everyone craved recognition, and even he, having reached the Transcendent Realm, wasn’t immune to this basic human desire.
He wasn’t obsessed with fame, but he did perk up whenever he overheard his name mentioned.
Pyeong Cho-yul’s reaction seemed a bit exaggerated.
‘The rumors couldn’t have spread that far.’
But Pyeong Cho-yul’s excitement was genuine.
The big fish, the one they’d been trying so hard to reel in, had come to them!
‘Chae-ji sent us a blessing! I’ll have to reward her handsomely when I get back. A generous donation to the Hangsang Sect seems appropriate!’
He was ecstatic, already planning a lavish welcome and a barrage of gifts to secure Namgung-Woo’s favor.
If he handled this well, the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency would expand beyond Shanxi, becoming a major player in Hebei as well.
His father and brother would shower him with praise.
But his happy daydream was cut short.
“M-Manager! They’re… they’re here.”
“Here? Who…? Oh dear. So soon…”
Pyeong Cho-yul muttered in dismay.
“Fellow Martial Artist, it seems our reunion will have to wait.”
“It’s alright. I don’t mind if you have other guests.”
While Pyeong Cho-yul’s reaction suggested he’d generated more publicity than expected, he was here to ask for a loan, so the agency’s business took precedence.
But it seemed this wasn’t just any ordinary business.
“Well, they are guests, but…”
Pyeong Cho-yul’s gaze paused on the stairs, then shifted downward to the first floor.
Namgung-Woo followed his gaze and saw a familiar group entering the inn.
“The Peng Family?”
As expected from the rumors.
Pyeong Cho-yul clicked his tongue.
“They’re here to see you, not us.”
Had she heard him?
The young woman among the Peng Family martial artists looked up.
“Ah…!”
Her eyes met Namgung-Woo’s, and her already large eyes widened further.
A bright smile spread across her face.
“Benefactor!”
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