Ju Hyang-wol walked to the inn's entrance.
A martial artist from the Hwangdo Merchant Group recognized her and offered a greeting.
“Miss Ju, you have arrived?”
“What is going on?”
“It is nothing. If you go inside and wait, the Young Master will arrive shortly.”
Ju Hyang-wol looked at the man who had been arguing.
Turning her head without much thought, she was inwardly startled.
The young, handsome man's eyes were clear and deep.
She found her gaze captivated by a face that was hard to forget after just one look.
Behind the young man stood a middle-aged man.
He wasn't looking this way.
With his arms crossed, he was watching the people coming and going in the market street.
The moment she saw them, an indescribable emotion surged up and vanished.
It was her first time experiencing this, so she couldn't identify the feeling.
In any case, the moment she saw the two, she could feel it.
'They must be father and son.'
Their faces were not similar, yet their auras were alike in some inexplicable way.
And behind the middle-aged man stood another man.
'An Escort Martial Artist?'
They were none other than Geom Mugeuk, Geom Woojin, and Hwi.
Hwi had said he would eat separately, but Geom Mugeuk had forcefully dragged him along.
This journey was for himself and his father, but at the same time, he hoped it would be a journey for Hwi and his father.
At least for this trip, he wanted Hwi to walk around on his own two feet as much as possible, not in a state of stealth.
To meet his father's gaze and eat meals together.
That was why this moment was a precious time.
Once the journey ended and they returned, life would go back to the way it was.
Why would I go this far for him? Because I know.
I know of Hwi's life, one he willingly gave for my father.
Having protected my father his entire life, he ended his own by sacrificing it in the end.
Ju Hyang-wol asked the martial artist from the Hwangdo Merchant Group.
“Why are you preventing these people from entering?”
“Young Master Hwang has rented out the entire inn for the day.”
Ju Hyang-wol’s expression hardened.
It was Young Master Hwang who had set the meeting place at this inn.
He could have visited the Ju Clan Sword Family, so his insistence on meeting here had been strange.
It seemed it was to show off his wealth by renting the entire place.
Geom Mugeuk said to her.
“I am a man traveling with my father. I have come a long way to treat him to the food here.”
She looked at Geom Mugeuk and Geom Woojin.
The usual her would have told them to go to another inn and sent them away.
It would have been the right thing to do, for their sake as well.
Entering would likely bring more trouble than good.
But today, her choice was different.
“Let them in.”
“Young Master Hwang ordered us not to let anyone in.”
“I will take responsibility. Now, let us go in together.”
Ju Hyang-wol tried to enter with the three, but the martial artists still blocked her path.
Only when Ju Hyang-wol gave them a cold stare did the martial artists finally make way.
“Thank you very much. Thanks to you, Miss, I am now able to treat my father to a meal.”
And so, Ju Hyang-wol led the three people inside.
She wasn't usually this kind of person.
'Yes, it's because he said he's traveling with his father.'
She had been thinking of her late father the entire way here.
“Was there a reason it had to be this particular inn?”
“Among the dishes here, the cold platter made with twelve kinds of vegetables and the duck boiled with fine herbs are true delicacies. They are good for one’s health, too. I truly wanted to treat my father to them."
She envied the man before her.
If her father were alive, she would have treated him so well.
She would have traveled with him and bought him all the delicious and healthy food he desired.
But by the time she had matured, it was already too late.
“Still, insisting with the Hwangdo Merchant Group’s martial artists was not a good choice."
The Hwangdo Merchant Group's power had been formidable lately, so she assumed these men before her would know of it.
Yet, the young man seemed to think nothing of them.
"Even if the Martial Alliance were blocking the way, not just the Hwangdo Merchant Group, I would have had to come in. This is my first journey with my father."
Even so.
How could he so grandly mention the Martial Alliance? As if he even knows what kind of place it is.
Geom Mugeuk looked at Geom Woojin and added,
“What a hard-won opportunity this is.”
Geom Woojin was simply going along with what his son wanted.
The person most surprised by this was Hwi.
While Geom Mugeuk was arguing in front of the inn, the Cult Master had waited silently.
Considering the Cult Master's personality that he knew, it was an unimaginable event.
“Mister, please choose something you would like to eat as well.”
“I am fine.”
“No, you cannot. You must choose one. If you don't, I won't order. Did you hear that just now? That rumbling sound from my father's stomach? Ah, my poor father. Unable to maintain his dignity…”
“I will choose.”
How could he win against Geom Mugeuk? In the end, Hwi also chose a dish.
Watching them, Ju Hyang-wol was startled.
She realized she had been watching them with a smile on her lips without even knowing.
"If anyone comes and asks why you are here, just give them my name. I am Ju Hyang-wol of the Ju Clan Sword Family."
“Thanks to you, Miss, I was able to be a filial son.”
As she was about to turn away, she offered a piece of advice.
“If this is fate, then it is fate, so I will say this out of goodwill. The swords you two carry are too conspicuous.”
Geom Mugeuk's sword was wrapped in Supreme Heavenly Silkworm Thread, and Geom Woojin's was wrapped in bandages.
She meant that the sight of a father and son both concealing their swords was, ironically, more noticeable.
In truth, it wasn't the swords that were conspicuous, but she failed to realize that the two men themselves had caught her eye.
“It is because they would be even more noticeable if unwrapped.”
“What do you mean?”
Geom Mugeuk simply smiled.
No matter how conspicuous it was, his father couldn't just walk around the Central Plains wearing the Heavenly Demon Sword.
“Enjoy your meal. You probably will not have to pay for it.”
She said this because she'd heard the place was rented out entirely.
“I thank you for your words, but I do not think that would be right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Those people likely did not pay to rent this place. At least we should pay our share.”
Ju Hyang-wol was shocked.
“We heard it together, did we not? That they rented the entire place.”
“Then go ask the innkeeper. Ask him how much he was promised in return for renting it out. He probably didn't set a price. Avoid the martial artists at the entrance and quietly ask the innkeeper."
She went and spoke with the innkeeper and returned.
“How did you know?”
The innkeeper had said this.
It's alright.
Such esteemed people are holding an important meeting, so of course, I must help.
In other words, it meant he would not be properly paid.
“It is what martial sects do best. They say they will settle the bill later, but they'd be lucky to get the cost of the food thrown at them on the way out. There is almost no case where they compensate for the loss of other customers."
Ju Hyang-wol's face flushed slightly.
If that was the case, then strictly speaking, her showing them favor was a shameful thing.
“I will confirm it when Young Master Hwang arrives.”
“When you question him, consider who will suffer the consequences before you do.”
She knew what he meant.
In the end, the innkeeper would be the one to suffer.
“Still, I will be sure to repay the debt I owe you, Miss, should the opportunity arise.”
It was then.
A man entered the inn.
"Miss Ju, you are already here?"
He was Hwang In, the successor of the Hwangdo Merchant Group.
She had expected him to arrive with a flock of escorts, but surprisingly, he came alone.
As Hwang In walked toward her, his gaze naturally shifted to the people with her.
“Who are these people with you?”
At that, a martial artist from the entrance came in and whispered to him what had happened earlier.
Hwang In found it unexpected.
The Ju Hyang-wol he had investigated beforehand was not such a meddlesome person.
Knowing that he might kick them out if she did not intervene, Ju Hyang-wol said to Hwang In,
“They are my guests.”
“Ah, I see.”
While reacting smoothly, Hwang In was inwardly puzzled.
'She's not the type of person to go this far.
Was my investigation wrong?'
Then a thought occurred to him.
'Could it be that they are on the same side, and she is pretending not to know them?'
He thought that might be the case.
The Clan Leader must have been anxious about sending his daughter out alone.
“It is an honor to meet such esteemed people.”
Indeed, the three gave off an extraordinary aura.
There was no mention of them in his prior investigation, so they must have been brought in from the outside.
“I am Hwang In of the Hwangdo Merchant Group.”
Geom Mugeuk responded on their behalf.
“We are merely passing travelers, so you need not pay us any mind.”
Hwang In thought his counterpart was intentionally hiding his identity.
'Are they hired for money? Or are there still people willing to help the Ju Clan Sword Family?'
It did not matter either way.
Today's business was not something to be resolved by force.
Just then, the food Geom Mugeuk had ordered arrived.
“Ah, Father. Please try this first.”
As if he had truly just come here to eat, Geom Mugeuk focused on the food.
He placed some food into a small bowl and served it to his father and Hwi.
Seeing them pay him no mind strengthened Hwang In's conviction.
'They are trying hard not to be suspected as allies.'
Anyway, the pride of martial artists! If asked who was the easiest for a merchant to deal with, Hwang In could confidently say it was martial artists.
That foolish pride of theirs.
"Now, shall we go?"
Hwang In sat down across from Ju Hyang-wol at a table in the center of the inn.
"Let's have a drink."
Hwang In poured her a cup of wine, but Ju Hyang-wol simply set it down without drinking.
“Why did you choose me?”
“I thought it would be best for young people like us to communicate.”
Ju Hyang-wol had never heard any rumors about Hwang In.
He was a person with neither a particularly good nor a bad reputation.
“What is your reason for wanting to invest in us?”
“The reason a merchant group wants to join hands with a sword clan is always the same. We need the sword clan's power.”
“Couldn't you invest that money directly and create a sword division within your merchant group?”
“Of course, we are raising our own martial artists. But do you know this? The martial world does not acknowledge the swords of merchants. They openly look down on us, saying we bought our swords with money. Because of that, it is not easy to recruit masters. They hate being told they sold out for money. Honestly, don't you think so too?”
Faced with the sudden question, Ju Hyang-wol could not say no.
She certainly had a small part of her that felt that way.
“Therefore, to conduct large-scale business in the martial world, we need the reputation of the Ju Clan Sword Family. Ah, of course, I am not looking down on you or your clan, so please do not misunderstand. We want a mutually beneficial relationship where we help each other.”
However, Ju Hyang-wol did not wish to join hands with them.
It wasn't because she knew the Hwangdo Merchant Group well, nor was it because she was well-versed in her clan's internal affairs.
It wasn't even because she could predict the outcome of this cooperation.
It was because she could not trust her mother's judgment.
Her mother always made mistakes when she was in a hurry.
She knew she shouldn't judge the issue with the Hwangdo Merchant Group that way, but emotionally, she couldn't help but feel it.
Was it because her expectations were low? The man named Hwang In seemed better than she had thought.
She had expected him to be someone who just flaunted his money and chased women, but he seemed to have some ambition and depth.
“How do you propose we join hands?”
“We merchants do not trust verbal promises. We only trust contracts.”
Hwang In handed her the document he had brought.
“This is a contract stating that our merchant group and the Ju Clan Sword Family will join forces. Please read it and sign. Originally, the Clan Leader should do it, but since the Clan Leader has sent you as a representative and you are also her daughter, you, Miss Ju, are sufficiently qualified. Take your time to read it slowly. Documents that require a signature must always be read meticulously.”
Ju Hyang-wol was inwardly flustered.
She had expected to meet and discuss various things today, but she had not thought they would go as far as to draw up a contract.
'Did Mother know about this?'
At least one thing was certain.
Her mother would be pleased if she returned after making an agreement with them.
After all, she was the mother who had tried to send her out dressed in that splendid palace gown.
If she followed her heart, she would declare her refusal and storm out, but considering the clan's current situation and her mother, she could not do that.
Ju Hyang-wol read through the contract.
Some parts were understandable at a glance, while other passages were confusing even after rereading.
Why are all these unnecessary words needed? Let's erase them all and just write this.
She wanted to say that, but the problem was she couldn't specifically say what should be left.
Then there were phrases that seemed both necessary and unnecessary, with many ambiguous parts.
'To know something roughly is to know nothing at all.'
No, it was worse than knowing nothing.
She was glossing over uncertain clauses with a rough understanding.
How dare you trifle with us?
She read to the last page but could not find a single clause worthy of such an outburst.
Should she just sign it and take it to her mother? Screaming at her not to regret it later since it was her will, not mine?
She wished it were a few years ago, back in her immature days.
“If Father were here…”
At that moment, her gaze unconsciously drifted to where Geom Mugeuk was sitting.
Perhaps knowing this was an important meeting, they were eating and conversing quietly.
Only after she strained her ears could she hear their conversation.
"It's delicious, isn't it?"
"It's fine."
“What about you, Mister?”
“It is delicious."
“See, did I not say it was delicious? Let's visit every famous inn in the Central Plains, and kidnap the chef from the most delicious one and take him back with us! Or, we can each kidnap a chef that suits our palate, three of them!”
At his joke, Ju Hyang-wol found herself smiling without realizing it.
It was not a situation to be smiling in, yet watching them filled her with a strange sense of relief.
She had been having nightmares and feeling unsettled recently, so why did she feel so at ease? These were people she had met for the first time today.
Just then, her eyes met Geom Mugeuk's.
Could eyes that had just spoken such nonsense be so deep?
The moment that thought crossed her mind, she entrusted herself to the pull of fate.
She shot up from her seat, contract in hand, and began to walk toward Geom Mugeuk.
Hwang In was inwardly taken aback by her sudden action, but he watched cautiously for the time being.
As she walked toward Geom Mugeuk, she thought to herself.
'This is crazy.'
Today is truly a day where my instincts are running wild.
“You said you would repay your debt to me, didn't you?”
"I did."
“That debt, can you repay it now?”
“We are not merchants but martial artists; we are people who cannot stand to be in debt.”
She held out the contract in her hand to Geom Mugeuk.
“Then find me a reason to tear this up.”