Seeing The Demon (3)

Gyeong Do-cheon’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s different.’

He had been to the River Dragon Grand Pavilion a few times as well.

No matter who you were entertaining, it was hard not to like the River Dragon Grand Pavilion. It was so expensive that even a decent rich man would end up sick with worry after drinking here a few times.

Of course, it was worth its price. From the courtesans to the cooks, only those said to be the best in Sichuan gathered here. The bedrooms were lined with the finest silk produced in Sichuan. The place itself was so enormous it could overwhelm most Murim sects.

And despite being that large, security was so strict that they wouldn’t let in anyone without an introduction.

Thanks to ties that went back to his grandfather’s generation, Gyeong Do-cheon had come here a few times too. Of course, he didn’t come often. It cost money, and he was busy.

‘The people are different.’

The River Dragon Grand Pavilion he’d returned to after a long time was different from before.

The workers going back and forth were the same, but the courtesans guiding them looked different, and their bearing was on another level. If he hadn’t known better, he might have suspected he’d come to the imperial palace of old.

Gyeong Do-cheon felt himself growing subtly tense.

‘Did the courtesans change in the meantime? No way. Each and every one of them wasn’t an ordinary art courtesan.’

Woo Gyeong-baek seemed to feel something similar.

“Hey.”

“Yes, sir.”

Even the courtesan assigned to mere guidance was dazzlingly beautiful. Woo Gyeong-baek asked carefully.

“I don’t see the courtesans I saw the last time I came.”

“Is there someone you are looking for?”

“No, not exactly.”

“Our River Dragon Grand Pavilion manages its courtesans strictly, and conducts surprise inspections of their looks, etiquette, and arts. Any courtesan who fails continues to hone herself until she passes.”

Woo Gyeong-baek clicked his tongue.

“Even so, can people change this much?”

That meant either River Dragon Grand Pavilion was that strict with courtesan management, or the previous courtesans weren’t showing their best.

The courtesan held back her words and guided the two to the top floor.

The River Dragon Grand Pavilion was expensive to begin with, but the top floor was on another level. It wasn’t only money. Unless you were a power-broker who could sway Sichuan, or a figure acknowledged by all the art courtesans, you couldn’t come up here even if you offered hundreds of millions of gold.

‘Impressive.’

Gyeong Do-cheon’s eyes deepened.

‘As expected of the Sichuan Branch Chief.’

He was the kind of top power who could sway Sichuan Murim through authority and influence, not martial arts.

‘I heard even Gyeong In-geol and Gyeong Hang could only reach the middle floors.’

That even giants who could change Sichuan’s flow of funds couldn’t reach the top floor meant River Dragon Grand Pavilion’s pride was that great.

‘Or it means the power of whoever is backing it is tremendous.’

Come to think of it, he had never looked deeply into the River Dragon Grand Pavilion.

‘I’ll have to look into it later.’

There were three rooms on the top floor. The courtesan led them to the one with the largest, most ornate door.

After a moment, the courtesan bowed her head and announced,

“I have brought the guests.”

“Let them in.”

A low, settled voice.

It was languid beyond measure. Gyeong Do-cheon felt his shoulders tense without meaning to.

Deureureuk!

The door opened to either side.

Inside, a lavish spread was set, and a middle-aged man seated at the place of honor was receiving wine from a refined woman.

Woo Gyeong-baek dropped to his knees on the spot. At the same time, Gyeong Do-cheon also knelt.

“Sichuan Branch Vice Branch Master Woo Gyeong-baek greets the Branch Chief.”

The middle-aged man, Mun Jung, laughed and waved it off.

“Here we go again. There’s no rule anywhere that says a vice branch master has to kneel and pay respects to the branch chief.”

“Heh heh. If you treat your superior too casually, the proper order won’t stand.”

“Kwa-ha-ha-ha! Your tongue is still sweet like it’s smeared with honey. Don’t do that there. Come in.”

His voice already had some drink in it.

The two carefully sat to Mun Jung’s right.

Mun Jung joked as he spoke,

“When a legend who rose to vice branch master faster than anyone in Sichuan Branch history suddenly requests a meeting, I’m already getting scared.”

“What do you mean? Even if my ability is good, could I ever reach even the tip of your foot, Branch Chief?”

“Ha ha ha ha.”

As Mun Jung burst into laughter, he accepted the bite the woman beside him offered and ate it. It was a motion too familiar.

Only after the woman’s handkerchief carefully wiped even his lips did Mun Jung speak again.

“All right. We’ll put the fun off until later. You said you have urgent business?”

“My apologies. I’m still cautious, thinking I may have disturbed your rest over something trivial.”

“Honestly. What kind of heavy request are you about to make.”

“Heh heh. Please understand my sincerity.”

Mun Jung laughed again, then looked at Gyeong Do-cheon with half-lidded eyes.

“By the way, who’s that fellow?”

Woo Gyeong-baek bowed his head and said,

“He’s an acquaintance I brought because I wanted to introduce him to you, Branch Chief. First Young Master, offer your greeting.”

Gyeong Do-cheon straightened and bowed deeply.

“It is an honor to meet you, Branch Chief. I am the eldest son of a small iron guild in northern Sichuan, and I have long admired your valor and wisdom. I never expected to gain such an opportunity to greet you.”

Mun Jung looked at Woo Gyeong-baek with amused eyes.

“No wonder he’s your acquaintance. He sure knows how to speak.”

“Heh heh. He doesn’t only speak well. He’s a fine man too.”

“Then what’s the name of that small iron guild’s eldest son?”

Gyeong Do-cheon slowly raised his head.

“My name is Gyeong Do-cheon.”

“Gyeong Do-cheon? I’ve heard that name somewhere…”

As Mun Jung cocked his head, the woman whispered something softly to him.

Only then did Mun Jung slap his thigh and exclaim,

“Divine Iron Merchant House! You’re Divine Iron Merchant House’s First Young Master.”

“My apologies.”

“There’s a limit even to modesty. You’re the heir of Divine Iron, competing for Sichuan’s top merchant guild seat, and yet you belittle your own house like that?”

“Before the master of Sichuan Branch, the pinnacle of Sichuan Murim, how could I not be modest?”

“Kwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

Mun Jung burst into loud laughter as if he was truly pleased.

But only for a moment.

“All right. I understand.”

His face was still full of drink, but Mun Jung’s eyes were unexpectedly clear.

“I’m busy with work, so I don’t meet merchant guild people often. But I have seen your father. I remember him as a man with real backbone.”

“I’m honored.”

“But there’s no major point of contact between the Branch and the merchant guilds. Sure, thanks to you, Sichuan’s livelihood grows better by the day, but we’re each just doing our own duties, aren’t we?”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s eyes gleamed.

‘Could it be…?’

Is he already subtly trying to get ahead of him?

He needed to confirm it. Gyeong Do-cheon spoke even more politely.

“I hold you in such high regard that I couldn’t bring myself to reach out easily, fearing it might invite unwanted rumors.”

Mun Jung grumbled.

“Any ‘talk’ isn’t something you lot need to worry about. Unlike you, the Fragrant Brocade Merchant Guild sent people often. Of course, I refused Mighty Tiger.”

The corner of Gyeong Do-cheon’s mouth lifted slightly.

‘So Woo Gyeong-baek was right.’

He said there was no point of contact, yet he seemed to subtly blame him for not coming.

He had asked again because he wasn’t sure, and Mun Jung really did resemble Woo Gyeong-baek.

‘But the Fragrant Brocade Merchant Guild sent people? Hm.’

He hadn’t heard that part. Then again, the merchant guild master had no need to tell him everything.

What he liked unexpectedly was the part about Mighty Tiger.

‘So he rejected those bastards.’

He would meet Fragrant Brocade’s people, but not Mighty Tiger.

The meaning was clear. He would take trustworthy money, but he would never swallow money that looked like it would cause trouble.

Just knowing he could make that distinction easily made today’s meeting extremely important to Gyeong Do-cheon. In some ways, it could become even more important than becoming master of the clan.

“My apologies. My thinking was too short. Just as I came to see you today, I will come often in the future, together with Vice Branch Master Woo.”

It was one line that kept Woo Gyeong-baek’s face, and also eased his unease.

Mun Jung’s smile deepened.

“Young man, you’re quite clever.”

“You flatter me.”

“Clever people usually don’t make trouble. I like that.”

Mun Jung lifted a wine bottle.

“Will you take a cup?”

Yes!

Despite feeling like he could jump for joy, Gyeong Do-cheon carefully lifted his cup, walked over in quick steps, and knelt before Mun Jung.

“It’s Jiannanchun¹. Have you drunk it often?”

“Being busy with work, I couldn’t drink it often.”

“The Jiannanchun the River Dragon serves is Sichuan’s best. Try it.”

Cup in hand, Gyeong Do-cheon turned his head and swallowed a drink.

In an instant, his eyes widened.

Mun Jung’s laugh carried a phlegmy rattle.

“How is it? Does it taste all right?”

“It’s astonishing. The Jiannanchun I knew wasn’t real Jiannanchun.”

“Hahaha!”

The taste really was incredible. Again, Gyeong Do-cheon wondered if the River Dragon Grand Pavilion might be some hidden merchant guild.

But that was that, and this was this.

“May I dare offer you a cup?”

Mun Jung laughed loudly.

“Good. Very good.”

After they exchanged cups once, Gyeong Do-cheon returned to his seat.

“Come, come.”

As if in a good mood, Mun Jung’s hand gestures, slapping his thigh again and again, were lively.

“I think we’ve greeted enough. I don’t like exchanging even a word with mediocre people.”

Not just words, but sharing cups too meant he thought that well of Gyeong Do-cheon.

“On the other hand, with someone I like, I don’t like wasting time on useless words.”

Mun Jung gave a faint smile and looked at Woo Gyeong-baek.

“Not you. That fellow, right?”

It was instant understanding. Woo Gyeong-baek smiled and bowed his head.

“My apologies for not telling you in advance. I thought it would be best for you to see him yourself and make the judgment, Branch Chief.”

“So he’s someone you can be confident in.”

Mun Jung’s gaze shifted to Gyeong Do-cheon.

“All right. What are you asking of me?”

Gyeong Do-cheon straightened his back.

He said he disliked wasting time on useless words. Gyeong Do-cheon intended to follow that exactly.

“Right now, our clan’s Supreme Patriarch is in the Investigation and Defense Court Master’s office. I want my grandfather to return to our house.”

“Hm? Why not go and ask him to yourself?”

“The Supreme Patriarch doesn’t like me inheriting the Patriarch’s seat. So he took the Patriarch’s Treasure and the seal and hid them.”

“Oh?”

“It was already settled with my father, the current Patriarch, and yet he insists on it. But as his grandson, I can’t start a fight with him, so I want to bring him back in the cleanest way possible.”

That was enough to understand.

And in Gyeong Do-cheon’s words, his desire for the Patriarch’s seat was plainly present. He showed it readily, even though it could become a weakness.

“I see.”

Mun Jung gave small snorts of laughter, as if he grasped the situation.

“No matter how great a clan is, conflict between blood kin can’t be helped. You must have suffered.”

“I’m ashamed.”

“A retired Supreme Patriarch taking the clan’s treasure and disappearing seems like excessive stubbornness. But because it’s blood kin, turning it into a fight of legitimacy doesn’t look good.”

“You’re exactly right.”

Mun Jung nodded.

“Is there even need to drag it out? I’ll use my authority as Branch Chief and send an order directly to the Investigation and Defense Court Master. I’ll tell him to pick a few attendants and escort the Supreme Patriarch back to your clan.”

Gyeong Do-cheon’s face brightened at once.

It turned out far better than he’d vaguely expected. And if the Court Master himself selected the attendants, even that unknown master wouldn’t be able to interfere.

“Thank you. I don’t know how I can repay this favor.”

“You can repay it right now.”

As Gyeong Do-cheon was about to offer money, Mun Jung held out the wine bottle instead.

“The Court Master will handle it and send him along properly. More than that, I want to drink with you. Well? Shall we drink until our noses go crooked tonight?”

Gyeong Do-cheon was flustered, but soon nodded.

“It’s an honor of three lifetimes, and an honor for the clan.”

As the woman prepared brush and ink, Mun Jung immediately wrote the order, then stamped it with the seal he took from his robes.

Seureuk.

The door opened, and a wandering swordsman who looked to be in his early thirties came in, received Mun Jung’s letter, and withdrew.

Mun Jung beamed.

“Now, shall we have a drink!”