Part 1,

Chapter 49. The Secret Shop

“The cost of goods in Hubei is truly outrageous.”

Han-won muttered with a frown. The members of the Black Tiger Unit inwardly agreed with Han-won’s words. The cost of an inn in Hubei was more than double what they would pay in Shaanxi.

They had arranged for the Hubei branch to meet them once they arrived at the border, but for some reason, they received a message saying they would arrive the next day instead.

Thus, the Shaanxi branch’s martial artists escorted them to the nearest busy street before heading back.

Five martial artists and one woman. Although the heartless Hubei inn had demanded double the price from this small group, the lodging fee actually decreased because all the Shaanxi branch martial artists had left.

So-hwa handed the money pouch to the grumbling Han-won.

“It’s a waste of time to haggle for just one night. Let’s stay here.”

Han-won closed his mouth at So-hwa’s words.

In such situations, the opinion of the one providing the money always takes precedence.

“Yes, then I’ll go in and tell them to prepare a room.”

Just as Han-won was about to enter the inn again…

“Hey, if you can, try going to the other street and find a place to stay.”

The beggar sitting on the ground in front of the inn muttered to himself as if it were an afterthought.

“Judging by your looks, you seem to be new here. If you go to that street, there’s a collection of inns and shops. If you go there, you’ll probably pay a fair price.”

The Black Tiger Unit’s gaze shifted from the beggar to So-hwa.

She stared at the beggar and asked,

“That’s kind of you, but why are you telling me this?”

“It’s not a big deal. I’m just being meddlesome.”

At that moment, Han-won quickly interjected.

“Young lady, I think it would be better to go to that street. Price aside, it will be easier for us to provide security if the inns are clustered together.”

A place with a crowd was relatively less likely to be attacked than a secluded inn.

This place was the border between Shaanxi and Hubei, so there was a lot of passing merchant traffic. There were also many guards accompanying them, so if they were gathered together, they could notice any commotion more quickly.

So-hwa nodded.

“Alright. Let’s go that way.”

“Yes.”

Han-won turned his body and took a coin from his sleeve, tossing it into the beggar’s donation basket. As they were about to leave, the beggar added one more thing.

“Hey, you seem to have some money. If you’re interested in accessories, you might want to check out the shop with the white flower lanterns.”

This seemed like information given in exchange for alms.

Intrigued, So-hwa turned her body and looked back at the beggar.

“Is there something special about that shop?”

“It’s a branch operated by the Anguk Merchant Group. They say they gradually release goods meant for the central market there.”

Upon hearing the familiar name of the merchan group, So-hwa leaned in closer.

The beggar chuckled and added,

“As you can see, it’s on a major trade route, so a lot of merchants gather here. They’ve spent their lives picking out goods, and they know what will sell well. The popular items are sent to Platinum Pavilion, but not just anyone can enter there. It’s not a place you can get into just because you have money. But here, if you’re lucky, you might be able to intercept the goods going there, so isn’t it a good opportunity?”

So-hwa tilted her mouth slightly.

“Are you perhaps a member of the Beggars’ Sect?”

“Just because I’m a beggar, you think I’m one of those Beggars’ Sect people?”

Since the beggar was covered in rags, So-hwa couldn’t see his waist. Noticing her gaze, the beggar waved his hand.

“Ah, talking too much drains my energy. I’ll be off now. Unless, of course, you want to give me more money.”

So-hwa smiled a mysterious smile and turned to leave. She glanced at Han-won, but he didn’t understand her intention. Fortunately, Cheolho, who was next to her, noticed and threw a coin into the beggar’s donation basket.

After walking for a while, the Tang Clan group reached the street.

The beggar’s advice proved worthwhile.

The inn’s accommodation fee was halved, and not only merchants but also guards accompanying the travelers were now clustered around the area. If something happened, it would be easier to spot any commotion right away.

It was a very favorable environment for a small group to move through.

After unloading their luggage at the inn, So-hwa took a bath with the warm water she had obtained. After changing into new clothes, she immediately left her room.

Cheolho, standing guard at the door, narrowed his eyes when he saw her.

So-hwa had never bathed and changed clothes when traveling with the martial artists from the Shaanxi branch, as they knew her identity. She was a young lady who prioritized efficiency over appearances while traveling, so seeing her move this way now was surprising.

“Are you going out?”

“I’m planning to visit the shop the beggar mentioned earlier.”

“Yes, please wait a moment. I’ll bring others along.”

As Cheolho tried to bring his comrades who were resting to join her, So-hwa stopped him.

“Don’t bother. It’s just a shop, not a raid. Why make such a big deal out of it?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“Taking five guards would only draw attention. Besides, there’s no one here who’s more capable than you, so don’t make a fuss.”

“That’s hard to say.”

Cheolho, who was usually silent, spoke more than usual this time. So-hwa understood that he was anxious and smiled.

“You don’t need to worry. If anyone wanted to harm us, staying here wouldn’t keep us safe either.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s safer to go out willingly.”

Cheolho remained silent, and So-hwa let out a small laugh.

“Don’t pretend you don’t understand.”

The Zhuge Clan and the Wudang branch, who were meticulous about keeping their appointments, were said to be half a day late.

The inn closest to Shaanxi was charging double for accommodation, and by chance, the beggar who had been begging right outside recommended a cheaper inn and shop.

Was it just a coincidence that they ran into a beggar begging in an isolated spot while they were walking down a busy street?

So-hwa’s dark eyes locked onto Cheolho.

Cheolho was silent, but he was no fool. He had already understood the situation.

“Let’s go.”

However, just because he understood, he couldn’t bring the young lady to a place that was clearly a trap.

So-hwa, seeing Cheolho hesitate, spoke again.

“It seems there’s a reason they can’t reveal themselves, so let’s not expose them. If we force them into a corner and make them reveal themselves, we’ll have no choice but to kill everyone there, won’t we?”

At her words, Cheolho reluctantly followed her as they left the inn.

It was a sunny afternoon, but the hearts of the Tang Clan daughter and the martial artist accompanying her were not at ease as they walked down the street.

Upon reaching the shop with the white flower lanterns, they saw some guards standing in front. They didn’t seem to be with the same group. Each one wore different clothing, and they weren’t conversing with each other. They seemed to be the guards of the customers who had entered the shop.

As if to confirm this thought, a small man standing by the door spoke in a stern voice.

“Guards cannot be allowed inside.”

Cheolho asked with a cold expression.

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Please understand. There were some who pretended to be guards before and stole all the goods. Since the shopkeeper died then, a rule was established that martial artists are not allowed inside.”

Cheolho stopped So-hwa once again.

“Do you really have to go inside?”

But the young lady didn’t show any fear. Instead, she smirked.

“Wouldn’t it be unwise to ignore what the beggar said?”

Hearing the same words again, Cheolho finally backed down.

So-hwa entered the shop. The strict man didn’t stop her from entering. Though she wasn’t an exceptional martial artist, she belonged to a noble martial clan and had received formal training. She was, undeniably, a martial artist.

Even so, the doorman didn’t stop her from entering, even though he had barred guards for fear of killing the shopkeeper.

So-hwa’s suspicions turned into certainty. She didn’t understand why they wanted to meet with her alone, but she didn’t feel it was dangerous—not at least for now.

If they really intended to kill her, it would have been better to let her stay at that secluded inn earlier.

In So-hwa’s memory, the Anguk Merchant Group was run by the person who had a confrontation with Namgung Hyun.

It was difficult to say whether the group stood on Namgung Hyun’s side, yet it couldn’t be definitively called unrelated to him either. This was the first time someone associated with Namgung Hyun had sought her out on their own.

‘Well, I suppose I have no choice but to accept this invitation.’

So-hwa stepped into the dim shop.

Despite it being broad daylight, the shop’s interior remained dark due to the absence of windows. Only the areas illuminated by lanterns were visible, yet even those were divided into sections by thin, semi-transparent cloths, making it impossible for her to discern the overall structure of the place.

“Please, come this way.”

Inside, there were already customers who had arrived earlier. The voices of the shop attendants explaining items and customers bargaining on the prices tickled So-hwa’s ears.

The shop attendant assigned to So-hwa kept explaining items to her without pause. However, seeing no reaction from her, he closed the box and led her to the next section.

“This item here should suit your taste.”

As the cloth was pulled back, it seemed someone had already made a purchase, as an empty box was left on the table. The assistant scratched his head in dismay.

“Oh dear, it looks like it’s already sold out. It’s a coral-made hair ornament, and lately, coral decorations have been very popular. They sell out as soon as they come in. Please, this way, this section has even better items.”

The assistant smiled awkwardly and quickly pulled the cloth away. Behind it, a much larger table appeared, one that was several times bigger than the previous display area. As expected, many more items were laid out for viewing.

The assistant led her to the table and continued speaking enthusiastically.

“These are coral accessories, too. These are from Hainan, and they can’t even be found in Guangdong, so they’re highly sought after.”

“How did items that can’t even be found in Guangdong end up here?”

So-hwa asked.

“Haha, when there’s money involved, who can refuse? We paid a bit more and brought the stock intended for Guangdong here to Hubei.”

With a laugh, he brought out several higher-end pieces and placed them before So-hwa.

“Look at this bracelet. It’s an incredible skill to carve the coral into such perfect circles. Can’t you feel the artisan’s breath in it?”

But the customer showed no reaction. The assistant’s energy started to wane.

Was she someone with an extraordinary eye for quality, or was she just indifferent to material wealth?

If it were the former, it would be a relief, but if it were the latter, she would likely leave empty-handed, making it all for nothing. Still, the assistant did his best to explain the items.

Women of this age group, whether they were from noble clans or courtesans, typically had their eyes light up at the sight of coral decorations, but So-hwa remained expressionless. She showed no interest in jade or white jade accessories either. After showing her almost every box, when the final one was opened, So-hwa’s cold face finally showed a reaction.

She took an interest in a butterfly-shaped ring. It was a gold piece so delicate that even the thin veins of the butterfly were intricately crafted.

The assistant’s face brightened.

“Ah, you truly have an excellent eye, young lady! This is the most expensive piece in our shop. The thin plate beneath the wings is made of top-grade jade…”

Just as the excited employee was about to continue his explanation, the curtain was pulled back.

“Excuse me, but I think you need to come out for a moment.”

“Huh? Why?”

There were no audible voices indicating what was being said, as So-hwa turned her gaze from the butterfly ornament to look at the two men. By the time she did, they had already exchanged looks. The assistant forced an awkward smile and spoke.

“Please, just a moment. Wait here, please.”

The assistant then went outside with his colleague.

So-hwa lowered her gaze back to the ornaments. She ran her fingertips across the butterfly’s back, letting out a faint smile.

‘This item passed through here.’

She pressed the inner part of the ring, and with a sharp sound, a hidden needle shot upward from the back.

This ornament was a defensive ring. It was a gift brought to her by Ye-hwa, who had traveled to Hubei with her husband. Ye-hwa, worried about her older sister, who was becoming weaker with time, had brought the ring that contained a hidden poison needle.

At the time, So-hwa was well-known for her expertise in detoxification, so whenever she wore the ring and simply adjusted her hair, those around her would be shocked and step back in surprise.

It was a gift from a younger sister who feared that her elder sister might be looked down upon.

Since Ye-hwa’s death, So-hwa had not worn it, so it was the first time in a long while that she had held it.

‘It was truly a valuable item.’

She had suspected that it might not be inexpensive, but she hadn’t known it was valuable enough to be shown to merchants first.

Admiring Ye-hwa’s taste once again, So-hwa smiled and slid the defensive ring onto her finger. The familiar sensation made the tension that had been constricting her body dissipate for a moment.

“Do you like it?”

Just then, a voice with a hint of amusement came from behind her.

Looking up, So-hwa saw a shadow cast over the curtain. Someone was standing in front of the cloth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep