Chapter 48
The reason Cheonhwa Inn had remained a renowned landmark of Nanjing for so long was that it had a contract with a famous troupe of performers called Jeolhyang , holding regular concerts.
Jeolhyang was a group formed by the disciples of the famous musician Yugeum Jeolhyang, and their performers were highly respected throughout the Central Plains.
At Cheonhwa Inn, one could hear their performances almost every day, attracting visitors even from distant places.
A place where one could enjoy music that was both classical and refined.
I had even visited with my mother when I was young.
“Still quite crowded.”
It was probably because the performers would begin their show around Shinshi: 3–5 p.m., which was about to start.
As soon as we entered the inn, Jeomsoi paused from serving food and greeted us.
“Welcome. Are you here to dine?”
“We came from Baekhodang to see the innkeeper,” I replied.
“Oh… please take a seat and wait a moment,” Jeomsoi said.
Following Jeomsoi’s guidance, Yeom Jihwa and I took a seat in a corner.
Just before entering Cheonhwa Inn, I had used Gonghwayum.
Most of the people inside were ordinary civilians without internal energy, but a few were not.
Especially, a man quietly drinking in the corner had an unusual Mu-Ui (martial energy).
Even from a side glance, he had an impressive presence.
The dark blue robe he wore, though dusty, was of high-quality silk, and while the front of his hair was loose and carefree from the breeze, the hair tied at the back of his neck looked neat.
“He looks young on the outside, but his internal energy rivals that of a seasoned master. Must be from a wealthy family… did he perhaps take some kind of elixir?”
His internal energy seemed gentle, suggesting he had mastered a refined martial art passed down in a prestigious family for generations.
“Why does he seem so familiar…?” I thought, tracing my past memories.
Bang!
The sound of a table overturning drew my attention, and Jeomsoi went tumbling to the floor.
“Bring Danhyang immediately while we’re still being polite!”
It seemed one of the drunken men in black, a martial artist with protruding teeth, had shoved Jeomsoi.
“But… sir, the performance hasn’t started yet, and Danhyang… today—”
Yeom Jihwa and I naturally turned our attention toward them.
I couldn’t ignore the commotion on the very first day I came to greet Cheonmunga.
The fat man, likely the inn’s proprietor, hurried over.
“Guests, I apologize, but today is not the day Danhyang performs. Please come back tomorrow.”
The innkeeper clasped his hands in apology, his face troubled.
“Do you know who we are? We are the executives of Heukwolmun.”
“If you don’t let Danhyang perform right now, we will tear this place apart.”
The two drunken men stood up threateningly, black emblems of Heukwolmun at their waists.
Heukwolmun was a small sect based in Jiangsu, led by the sect master Wolsa-yo. Though their disciples were few, their influence within Jiangsu was considerable.
The innkeeper cast a glance toward the stationed martial artists, pondering how to deal with the drunken men.
“If they really are Heukwolmun executives, we can’t stop them by force… And if we make enemies with Heukwolmun, doing business in Jiangsu will be difficult.”
“Master, another of our performers’ pipa performances is also exquisite. We can prepare it right away,” the innkeeper said, trying to appease them with a grin.
“Hmph.”
The man with black lips sat back down, and the one with protruding teeth followed suit, as if to say, let’s see your performance then.
I checked their internal energy with Gonghwayum.
“Their average internal energy is only about ten years’ worth. They look to be in their thirties or early forties…”
If they were really Heukwolmun executives devoted to martial arts, they should have more than twenty years of internal energy.
“Their martial skill is weak… and…”
I observed their hands, noting the calluses. Each had them in different places.
“Their weapons differ, and their martial arts styles are different…?”
Heukwolmun’s martial art relied on swords and iron wires, forming calluses on the middle and ring fingers and palms.
Yet one of these men had calluses on the index and middle fingers, and the other on the entire palm.
They had not truly trained in Heukwolmun’s martial arts.
“So why are they pretending to be Heukwolmun executives and causing trouble?”
It became clear that these were people attempting to provoke conflict between Cheonmunga and Heukwolmun.
“Something similar happened in my past life,” I recalled.
There had been an incident where Heukwolmun martial artists caused chaos at Cheonhwa Inn. At that time, Eun Socheon, the master of Baekhodang, declared war on Heukwolmun, nearly losing important business due to Hong Sabang’s schemes.
“These must be agents sent by Hong Sabang.”
But without clear evidence, it couldn’t be proven.
“What are you doing! Serve the Soheungju immediately!”
The innkeeper signaled Jeomsoi to place the soheungju on the table for the two men.
“Bring Moonwol here immediately.”
A beautiful woman appeared, dressed elegantly, holding a pipa. She sat on the stage and began to play.
Moonwol, one of Jeolhyang’s performers, had her own unique style and was an excellent musician.
“Truly, Cheonhwa Inn’s performances are superb. Even at Heukwolmun’s Cheonsaru, you can’t hear music like this,” said one impressed guest.
“Indeed, coming to Cheonhwa Inn is a feast for the ears and palate,” said another.
The inn’s patrons marveled at Moonwol’s pipa, but it seemed the two men were unimpressed.
“Hmph! Not that impressive. I suppose it’s because it’s not Danhyang,” said the man with protruding teeth, chugging his drink.
The black-lipped man also tilted his cup, urging the innkeeper.
The innkeeper looked on the verge of tears.
“Sir, Danhyang’s music is wonderful, but Moonwol’s pipa is also exquisite. Please listen a bit longer…”
“Chatter, chatter! Why do you keep babbling?”
The man with protruding teeth stood, shoving aside the protesting innkeeper, then approached Moonwol with his sword drawn.
Terrified, Moonwol screamed, and the inn’s guards moved to intercept, overturning tables in the chaos.
At that moment, Yeom Jihwa stepped boldly between them.
“What are you?”
“I am **Yeom Jihwa of Baekhodang, the temporary master. I am in charge of Cheonmunga’s secretarial affairs,” she said, her hand on her sword, ready to draw at any moment.
“You… insignificant clerk!”
As if anticipating this, the man with protruding teeth glared fiercely.
“Yeom, stop!”
I restrained Yeom Jihwa.
“These are not just any martial artists—they are guests who came to hear the music,” I said.
The innkeeper nodded vigorously at my words, clearly relieved that the situation didn’t escalate.
“And who might you be…?” he asked cautiously.
“My introduction was delayed. I am the newly appointed temporary master of Baekhodang,” I said.
“Ah… I heard the new master came to greet us,” said the innkeeper, glancing at Yeom Jihwa and me with a troubled expression. Though under Baekhodang’s protection, any immediate trouble would be troublesome for him.
“Even if the innkeeper doesn’t wish it, Baekhodang cannot allow guests to be disrespected,” I added.
Yeom Jihwa, understanding the situation, stepped back.
“New master of Baekhodang?”
“Perhaps you came to disturb us…?”
The men examined my appearance and smirked.
“Pretty~. Shall we see how golden she is? Though, we won’t be satisfied unless it’s Danhyang’s music.”
The man with protruding teeth chuckled, prompting Yeom Jihwa to quietly place her hand on her sword. I stepped forward in front of her.
“Why do you insist on hearing Danhyang’s performance today?” I asked.
Their eyes gleamed.
“Of course. Danhyang’s music is so beautiful it makes you forget all worldly troubles. We want to hear it right now.”
“Yes. We have no need for other performers’ music.”
They meant to continue causing a scene until Danhyang performed.
“Danhyang’s music is beautiful, but what if there’s a performance even more beautiful? Wouldn’t you want to hear it?”
“…?”
At my suggestion, the two men glanced at each other.
“Well… if there really is such a performance…”
“Then let’s hear it,” they said, their grip on their swords shifting.
“If a performance surpassing Danhyang’s is heard here, today the guests will drink and leave in delight,” I said confidently.
The man with protruding teeth snorted.
“Hmph. We’ve never heard Danhyang’s music! How do we know it can be surpassed?”
“You’ll have the guests here judge for themselves,” I replied, gesturing to the patrons.
The inn’s guests murmured in anticipation.
