Chapter 48. Do You Get What I’m Saying?

I rested my chin on my hand and looked at the boxes of White Flame Herb.

The small box seemed to contain hundred-year White Flame Herb, while the two large boxes held ordinary White Flame Herb.

Geumhae, who had gotten down from the carriage belatedly, strode into the main hall and said,

“Senior Brother, you should still check the quality.”

Geumhae sat across from me and opened one of the large boxes first.

“Ah, it’s not easy to get spirit medicines like this these days.”

Geumhae fanned the scent of the spirit medicine toward himself with his hand.

“Ah, even the smell seems to carry a scorching heat. This isn’t easy to store either, so if possible, take it right away.”

I glanced at the ordinary White Flame Herb.

Spirit medicines did not have particularly impressive appearances. Most looked similar to wild ginseng, or no different from the scraps of greens one might find on a dining table. More important than their shape was the place where they had been found.

Just as people change depending on the environment they grew up in.

In truth, White Flame Herb was not a spirit medicine from the Western Regions, but one that could be gathered in Nanmulin of Xizang. It had no side effects and helped increase internal energy, so the older it was, the more it could fetch whatever price the seller named.

I picked up one piece of ordinary White Flame Herb, slipped it under my mask, and chewed it slowly.

Geumhae, assuming I would buy it all anyway, asked,

“How is it?”

I nodded.

“Not bad.”

“Ah, Senior Brother, you’ve had White Flame Herb before?”

In my previous life, compared to the top masters of the martial world, the time I had spent learning martial arts was on the short side. Naturally, I had consumed most kinds of spirit medicine. Of course, I had never eaten extreme yin-type spirit medicines such as Snow Ginseng.

But I had been dragged all the way to Nanmulin and made to eat this White Flame Herb before, so I could not forget its taste.

The ordinary White Flame Herb was genuine.

The problem was the hundred-year White Flame Herb……

When I tried to open the box containing the hundred-year White Flame Herb, Geumhae pressed down on it with a finger.

“Senior Brother, no matter how close we are, shouldn’t you at least put down the money before checking it? It’s not that I don’t trust you. That’s just the basics of trade.”

“Chief Byeok, bring the money.”

“Yes, Gang Leader.”

Work should always be handled simply and clearly. While Chief Byeok dragged over the box containing the gold, I said,

“Still, we should check the quality. Chief Byeok, examine it yourself.”

Chief Byeok set the box of gold on the table and replied,

“Shall I?”

Geumhae looked at Chief Byeok.

“You know how to judge spirit medicines?”

“Of course.”

I pointed at Chief Byeok and said,

“He is an old hand of the martial world, having thrown himself into jianghu more than thirty years ago. A legendary appraiser of spirit medicines, an expert on spirit medicines, a prodigy of spirit medicines, the Wanbo Laoshi of the spirit-medicine world, a genius of spirit medicines, a man who can spot spirit medicines from a hundred li in the sky and smell spirit medicines from a hundred li away, a man who became a martial artist for the sake of appraising spirit medicines—that is Chief Byeok.”

Chief Byeok cupped his fist to me and replied,

“You praise me too highly.”

It was too much praise.

Geumhae chuckled and looked at Chief Byeok.

“Is that so? Chief Byeok, you’re impressive. Have a look.”

Chief Byeok opened the box and flared his nostrils.

“There are three roots. The smell is correct, at least. But if you look here, the joint of the root has been torn in an awkward way, so it seems someone ate one root.”

Chief Byeok finished speaking and looked at Geumhae.

Geumhae replied,

“I told you to appraise it, so what kind of bullshit is that? Just decide whether it’s genuine or not. Handing over three roots for fifty gold pieces is already me making a big concession. Are you going to keep pissing me off? I could take this straight to Senior Brother Baegyu.”

When Geumhae lost his temper excessively, Chief Byeok lowered his head slightly.

“My apologies.”

Chief Byeok said to me,

“Even so, the choice must be yours, Gang Leader. It is indeed top-grade White Flame Herb. Even if we hired men and sent them to Nanmulin, it would not be easy to obtain goods of this caliber. Above all, transporting it is difficult, so Divine General Geumhae’s words are true. If there had been five or six roots, Divine General Geumhae would likely have charged a hundred gold pieces.”

I nodded.

“Is that so?”

Geumhae laughed heartily, as if his mood had improved.

“Chief Byeok, I thought you were just a perverted painter, but you’re well versed in spirit medicines too.”

I pointed at the box.

“Check the money and take it.”

Geumhae opened the box of gold, looked through it this way and that with his hands, and checked it carefully.

“Well, I’m sure it’s right. Anyway, Senior Brother Myo might win this time, huh? What a shame.”

“What is?”

“Nothing.”

“Say it.”

Geumhae tilted his head, then said,

“No, I mean, isn’t that how it is? If a duel wager were to happen, wouldn’t most people bet on Senior Brother Baegyu? Senior Brother, you’d be the underdog odds. In my opinion, if you take this, at the very least you’ll draw, or Senior Brother Myo will win. If we make the pool big, then for you and me, fifty gold pieces would be nothing…… Do you get what I’m saying?”

“Turning a fight between the Twelve Divine Generals into a duel wager?”

Geumhae pointed a finger at me.

“That’s why it’d be a jackpot. Do you get what I’m saying? On top of that, Senior Brother Baegyu is the Fourth Divine General. I can’t think of a method right away, so I’ll ponder it a bit. Ah, if this board gets set, it’ll be huge. What a shame. As long as we call the match right, fifty gold pieces? No, at least five hundred gold pieces. If that happens, Senior Brother, it’ll be no different from eating the spirit medicine for free.”

I subtly showed interest.

“What about Master?”

Geumhae replied,

“Master? I take good care of him like always, so what’s the problem? Hahaha.”

When Geumhae laughed, Chief Byeok beside him laughed along for no reason.

“Hahaha, as expected, it was true that among the Twelve Divine Generals, Divine General Geumhae always vies for first or second in wisdom and strategy. This old man is astonished.”

Geumhae looked at Chief Byeok.

“Chief Byeok.”

“Yes.”

“Who told you to spew that useless flattery?”

Chief Byeok respectfully clasped both hands together.

“I apologize several times over today. I overstepped.”

I felt Geumhae had crossed the line, so I spoke in a sunken tone.

“Junior Brother, you watch yourself too.”

Geumhae replied as he stood.

“Then I’ll be going now. Senior Brother, if possible, you should eat that now. Its medicinal effect can decline as soon as it touches the air. Chief Byeok.”

“Yes.”

“Today, our Senior Brother Myo must circulate his qi and regulate his breathing all day, so keep the guard even tighter than usual. I’m telling you, don’t let so much as a single ant in or out.”

“I will bear it in mind.”

“See you again.”

As Geumhae turned and headed for Daecheong Gate, I called my junior martial brother to a halt.

“Wait.”

Geumhae turned only his head to look at me.

Before his eyes, I slipped three roots of hundred-year White Flame Grass beneath my mask and chewed them down on the spot.

“…….”

In truth, because of Cheonok, I did not need to circulate my qi and regulate my breathing right away. Cheonok first absorbed the power of the medicine, and whenever I had time, I drew on Cheonok’s energy through qi circulation to build up my inner force.

Most likely, in all the world, I was the only man of the jianghu who built inner force in such a manner.

I nodded and said,

“No doubt about it. This is genuine White Flame Grass.”

Geumhae smiled with his eyes as he bid farewell.

“Senior Brother, allow me to congratulate you in advance. See you again.”

After Geumhae disappeared, Chief Steward Byeok asked me,

“Are you all right? Even without circulating your qi at once?”

I took off my mask and answered.

“I’m fine. What about the other officers?”

“They are standing by all along the route. But, Gang Leader, even if you take off your mask and go personally, didn’t that Geumhae bastard say he had seen your real face as well?”

“He’s a clever pig, so he probably remembers.”

“Will that not become a problem? Divine General Geumhae’s merchant group has quite a number of troops as well.”

I set down the Black Cat Fang and, as I took off my clothes, said,

“Chief Steward Byeok, I’m not that much of a planner. What matters is this.”

“Yes.”

“Having the courage to take the money. The will to take it, no matter what. Courage and spirit, valor, aggression, a proactive attitude. Plans aren’t important. The heart is always more important. Worry is a trifling thought ranked even lower than planning. Bear that in mind.”

“Yes, Gang Leader.”

A maidservant came carrying clothes for me to change into, saw my half-naked body, and bowed her head deeply.

As I changed into clean white robes, I ordered Chief Steward Byeok,

“Guard the place like an iron fortress. Officially, the Gang Leader is currently circulating his qi.”

“I shall obey. Ah, are you not taking your blade?”

“What would a servant need a blade for?”

* * *

Geumhae climbed into the carriage, and the moment he took off his mask, he said to the guard seated across from him,

“Stupid bastard. Suspicious about every little thing, too. Tiring as hell.”

The guard, who held a sword in his arms, replied with a smile.

“You have worked hard. Where shall I escort you?”

“Let’s go to Chicken-Head Senior Brother. What a busy day.”

The guard looked toward the driver’s seat and raised his voice slightly.

“To Divine General Baegyu.”

Inside the rattling carriage, Geumhae suddenly tilted his head.

“It feels like his mood changed a little.”

“Why?”

“He was making pointless jokes and all. His head’s gone a bit strange.”

Geumhae twirled a finger beside his own temple.

“He must be anxious and on edge at the thought of crossing hands with Divine General Baegyu.”

“Is that so?”

“Did he say he would agree to the martial wager?”

“I don’t know yet.”

As if pleased by the scheme Geumhae had devised, the guard ran his mouth frivolously.

“Sell three roots to Black Cat, sell four roots to Baegyu, and if you even bring about the martial wager and raise the stakes… as expected, Young Master’s plans have no gaps.”

Geumhae nodded.

“If I’m going to attach myself to anyone, it’s better to attach myself to one of the Four Divine Generals. That rabbit bastard won’t even know why he’s losing again. If he takes a serious injury this time, I’ll offer Master a little bribe. Should I step into the ranking battle myself?”

“Then would you rise to fifth rank in one stroke?”

“If I rise to fifth, what would change?”

The guard shook his head.

“Young Master, why be satisfied with fifth? If you deal with just one of the four Divine Generals, you can take a seat among the Four Divine Generals yourself.”

Geumhae pointed at the guard with his finger and said,

“You’re too hasty. The Divine Generals aren’t men to be taken lightly. Let’s look at the long road. Just how much money did I have taken from me by the Great Rakshasa’s lot? There is no need to hurry at all. Our family has never lived at a loss. In the end, we always recover everything.”

At that moment, the coachman cried, “Whoa—whoa—!” and the carriage shook violently. Along with it came the thunder of hooves from outside—thud-thud-thud—then, with a crash, the sorrowful neighing of horses rang out.

The moment Geumhae looked through the small window, he burst out shouting.

“Have these bastards gone mad?”

Geumhae got down from the carriage with an incredulous expression.

A carriage had suddenly shot out from the road on the right, nearly colliding with theirs. The startled horses were rearing and thrashing in an uproar. It was the sort of carriage accident that could not occur unless the coachmen were drunk.

The guard first soothed the enraged Geumhae.

“Young Master, put on your mask first. I will handle it.”

“No, what the hell is this on a broad avenue? First check whether that coachman bastard over there has been drinking.”

“Yes.”

“If he has, slap him twenty times first.”

“Understood.”

* * *

I watched the firework burst in the air and took my bearings.

Whether Geumhae was returning home or slipping off to a pleasure house with the money he had just earned, the officers lying in ambush at every important road first would stop him or delay him by any means necessary.

While the officers bought time, I intended to confirm the direction by the fireworks and catch up.

Judging by the location of the firework, however, Geumhae did not seem to have gotten very far yet.

I picked up speed and began running toward my dear junior martial brother.

There was so much I wanted to say to him.

First, my money.

It also bothered me that, when he told me to bring water, I had pointlessly answered in polite speech.

Come to think of it, I don’t think my junior martial brother paid for the meal either.

It had been a feast fit for a king, so that simply wouldn’t do.

For the sake of his health, I also wanted to advise him to lose some weight.

And above all, it bothered me that he was an excessively insolent junior martial brother to his senior.

Suddenly, as I was running fiercely, I realized anew that I was not currently wearing a mask.

In that case, at present, I was…….

The waiter of Ilyang County, the Sect Master of Hao Sect, the liberator of Heukseon Fort, the servant of Black Cat Gang, Yi Zaha of Zaha Inn.

What did this mean?

It meant that, whatever I was, I bore a strong antipathy toward rich young masters.

Was it because I had been running?

Suddenly, anger boiled up inside me.

I ran, tearing through the wind.

Wait for me, Junior Brother.

Right now…… I’m coming…… to see you.