Bi-sun, who had woken up in the morning, washed his face and was arranging his hair when he stared blankly at his own face reflected in the bronze mirror with a hardened expression.

"Haa..."

A sigh escaped him as he felt his forehead had become a little wider than before.

"This is all because of that bastard. That heartless bastard."

Bi-sun, who recalled Jin Sa-wol, clicked his tongue and shook his head.

He had left this huge burden of a grand inn and had gone far away.

"Did he fly away for freedom? That bad bastard."

Bi-sun, who had frowned, sighed. As the sound of his sigh swirled in the room, the door opened.

Namgung Ji, who poked her head through the doorway, chattered brightly with a smile.

"General Manager. Please come out quickly. There's a mountain of work to do. We have to check the building materials and food ingredients coming in today, and also check the accounting books. We're supposed to have breakfast with the front store owners, so hurry up."

"Why the books? It's not the closing of accounts yet."

Since the books were more important than other matters, he asked urgently. Namgung Ji smiled.

"The innkeeper said he's coming soon, so I'm trying to organize them well."

"That's right. Right. That bastard is finally coming."

Bi-sun recalled Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok, who had arrived last night. Although it was annoying that they had brought a burden, the important thing was the news that Jin Sa-wol was coming.

As a smile hung on Bi-sun's lips, Namgung Ji's eyes widened for a moment.

"You seem happy."

"Of course. My work will be reduced."

Bi-sun laughed lightly and went outside.

Bi-sun, who was working as the general manager of the inn, was wearing a neat silk robe and a cape, and had a sword tied to his waist.

The reason he wore a scholar's hat was to show that he was a scholar, not a martial artist.

"General Manager. Someone from the Martial Alliance is here."

"The Martial Alliance?"

Bi-sun, who had entered the guesthouse at the words of the guest room attendant, greeted a person wearing a white martial arts uniform who looked to be in his late thirties.

"I am Bi-sun, the general manager."

"I am from the Golden Flower Pavilion of the Martial Alliance. I am Do Jeong, the hall master of the Golden Flower Hall."

"Please sit."

The person who had identified himself as Do Jeong sat down in a chair at Bi-sun's words.

He sat with his legs crossed, stroked his short beard, and said.

"The Martial Alliance has come to take charge of the inn. Since the scale of the inn is considerable, the Martial Alliance will manage it directly, so you should consider it an honor."

At the word 'honor', Bi-sun's expression changed. Do Jeong showed an arrogant expression and spoke again.

"I will conduct an inspection about once every three months. Prepare the best for me each time. My palate is picky, so I eat bird's nest soup or Suhyang meat pancakes for dinner. For alcohol, give me fruit wine that is more than ten years old."

At his words, Bi-sun was dumbfounded. But Do Jeong, as if he couldn't read Bi-sun's expression, waved his hand and continued.

"I heard that the gisaeng house here is very famous. I will be staying at the gisaeng house, so know that and prepare."

He was not an official, nor was he a castle lord, but a hall master of the Martial Alliance was making unreasonable demands without any basis, so Bi-sun frowned.

"Are you sure you're from the Martial Alliance?"

When Bi-sun asked, Do Jeong let out a hollow laugh and showed the Martial Alliance's nameplate from his sleeve.

It was definitely the iron plate of the Golden Flower Pavilion, and Do Jeong's name was engraved on it.

"Didn't you see our Golden Flower Pavilion's warriors outside?"

"I saw them."

"You should look good. They all have high martial arts. They are my hall members, so give them good alcohol and food. I will be staying at the gisaeng house today, so prepare for that as well."

"What do you mean?"

When Bi-sun asked, Do Jeong's eyes widened.

"Can't you understand what I'm saying?"

He raised his finger, shook it at Bi-sun, and shook his head.

"Tsk, tsk. Have you seen a person like an ox? Are you pretending not to know when you know? Or do you not know how the world works? I mean, entertain us properly, entertain. Do you think our Martial Alliance is a pushover and is protecting this inn without any compensation?"

"I don't know, so please tell me."

"Since we've come, shouldn't you treat us well and send us back? We need to eat on the way, so you should also prepare a hefty travel expense. Otherwise, the inn will not be protected by the Martial Alliance."

At Do Jeong's words, Bi-sun stood up from his seat and approached Do Jeong.

"Huh? What?"

Do Jeong, seeing Bi-sun's indifferent face, tried to get up. Just then, Bi-sun's hand crossed the empty air.

Slap! Thump!

A slapping sound that was like hitting the surface of a lake swirled in the room. Do Jeong, who had fallen to the floor, opened his eyes wide and touched his cheek.

"What... what is this? Are you crazy?"

Bi-sun sneered, grabbed Do Jeong by the collar, and lifted him up.

"The Martial Alliance is not as rude as you. Where did a swindler bastard..."

Whoosh!

Bi-sun threw Do Jeong out the door.

Crash!

"Aaargh!"

Do Jeong, who had rolled out with a scream, got up, panting.

"Is this bastard crazy!"

"Hall Master!"

The warriors of the Golden Flower Pavilion who were waiting rushed in and stood around Do Jeong.

Do Jeong, with a face full of anger, pointed his finger at Bi-sun, who was coming out of the guesthouse.

"Catch that bastard first!"

At Do Jeong's command, as the warriors of the Golden Flower Pavilion were about to step forward, the warriors of the inn rushed in.

"General Manager! What is it?"

As dozens of warriors from the inn appeared, the warriors of the Golden Flower Pavilion hesitated.

"This bastard dared to hit me! Do you want to die!"

"How dare you swindlers cause a disturbance? Catch them all!"

As Bi-sun shouted, the warriors of the inn attacked the warriors of the Golden Flower Pavilion. The warriors of the Golden Flower Pavilion also resisted and fought.

Amidst the screams and curses, many people gathered around the guesthouse due to the commotion.

Namgung Ji poked her head out.

"What's going on?"

"They say they're from the Golden Flower Pavilion. Do you know them?"

When Bi-sun asked, Namgung Ji looked at Do Jeong and tilted her head.

"It's the first time I've seen his face. But they did say someone from the Golden Flower Pavilion would come."

"Then they will come."

Bi-sun smiled and then waved his hand at the warriors of the inn who had already subdued Do Jeong and the warriors of the Golden Flower Pavilion.

"Lock them in the prison and go and inform the Jiujiang branch."

"Yes!"

The warriors of the inn answered and then dragged Do Jeong away and disappeared.

"Let's go to the front. We have to see the store owners too."

As Bi-sun moved, Namgung Ji joined him.

That evening, the branch master of the Jiujiang branch came and informed him that Do Jeong was indeed from the Golden Flower Pavilion, but Bi-sun did not release Do Jeong.

At the words that the innkeeper had to come, the branch master had to return empty-handed.

The Jiujiang branch master informed the Martial Alliance that a serious problem had occurred between the inn and the Golden Flower Pavilion.

* * *

Jo Geom-ok, who was staying in a separate room in the guesthouse, had not gone outside for several days.

The maids brought her food, and she spent most of her time circulating her qi or practicing her sword techniques.

"Aaaargh!"

Sometimes she would shout while practicing her sword techniques, but other than that, there were no problems.

After staying at home for a few days, she felt stuffy and walked in the garden to appreciate the red sky at sunset.

The many lovers who came and went there stimulated Jo Geom-ok's eyes.

'Why have there suddenly become so many people?'

Jo Geom-ok, with a hardened expression, passed by the people and walked along the shore of Poyang Lake. In her eyes, she saw a woman wearing a white skirt walking and Woo Jeong-bong.

'Those two?'

In a moment of anger, she approached Woo Jeong-bong from behind and asked.

"Who is this woman?"

"Huh?"

Woo Jeong-bong, who was enjoying a slow walk with a maid who worked at the gisaeng house, saw Jo Geom-ok and his eyes widened.

"Junior Sister Jo..."

"Senior Brother Woo. You said you liked Miss Son, but have you already turned your eyes to another woman?"

"What..."

Woo Jeong-bong was startled and his eyes widened. Just then, the maid who was walking with him showed a cold chill to Woo Jeong-bong and turned her body.

"You're a bad person. Hmph! Don't come looking for me."

Whoosh!

As she disappeared with quick steps, Jo Geom-ok showed a smile as if it were amusing and passed by Woo Jeong-bong.

"Huh? Hey! What? Huh! Why are you like that? What's your complaint!"

Although Woo Jeong-bong shouted, Jo Geom-ok waved her hand and walked along the lakeshore. Then, when a couple came towards her, she stood in front of them for a moment and looked at the sunset.

Then the approaching man stared blankly at Jo Geom-ok's face. The woman who was with him shouted with an angry face and dragged the man away and disappeared.

It is said that on this day, some of the many lovers who had come to the inn had their relationship soured.

It was the next day that Jin Sa-wol returned to the inn.

* * *

Jin Sa-wol received a report from Bi-sun and Jo-rim on how the inn had been running.

There was a new face there, Shin Hong, the faction leader of the Do Faction from the Hao Faction.

Shin Hong was a man in his early thirties with a neat impression, and he was a tall person with a scholarly look in his eyes, which was uncharacteristic of the Hao Faction.

It seemed he was a carefully selected person from within the Hao Faction.

It was said that he was popular with the many women who worked at the inn because of his deep voice and handsome appearance.

After receiving the report, Jin Sa-wol headed for the prison with Bi-sun. It was because of Do Jeong of the Golden Flower Hall.

Do Jeong, who was sitting in the prison, saw Jin Sa-wol and raised his chin with an arrogant expression. Bi-sun said.

"I checked, and he is indeed Do Jeong of the Martial Alliance. I've confirmed his identity."

Do Jeong, who had heard Bi-sun's words, showed killing intent to Jin Sa-wol.

"Are you the innkeeper? Since you treated me like a dog or a pig, you will have to offer your neck."

As he mentioned his neck at their first meeting, Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"I was going to let you out, but you still haven't come to your senses."

Jin Sa-wol muttered and turned his body. Then Do Jeong hurriedly approached and said.

"I am Do Jeong of the Golden Flower Pavilion of the Martial Alliance. Do you think the inn will be safe after treating me like this! You are all dead. If the Martial Alliance makes up its mind, an inn like this will become a pile of ashes overnight."

At Do Jeong's words, Jin Sa-wol showed a face as if he couldn't understand.

"How did you become the hall master of the Golden Flower Hall of the Martial Alliance?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm saying this because you seem like you'll die soon. In the Martial Alliance, is your life important? Or is our inn, which brings tens of thousands of nyang to the Martial Alliance a year, important? Do you really think your neck is worth tens of thousands of nyang?"

Jin Sa-wol observed Do Jeong's complexion and then went outside.

As he left the prison, Bi-sun asked.

"Are you going to kill him?"

"If I intended to kill him, my brother would have killed him first."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Bi-sun smiled. It meant that he was not worth killing.

"Are you getting along well with your sister-in-law? I heard you often spend the night in her room."

"Who spread such a rumor?"

Bi-sun was startled and lowered his voice. Jin Sa-wol whispered in Bi-sun's ear.

"Jia saw it."

"Where did she..."

"She wanders around here and there quite a bit."

Bi-sun, who recalled Namgung Ji, thought he should be careful. Bi-sun, who had walked a few steps, discovered Jo Geom-ok, who was following behind Jin Sa-wol like a faint smoke.

"Huh? Miss Jo. When..."

Bi-sun was quite surprised to realize that Jo Geom-ok had come within two zhang of him.

Jo Geom-ok, like a faint fog, stuck close behind Jin Sa-wol and said.

"I came when you were in the prison."

At her voice, Jin Sa-wol turned his head and his eyes met Jo Geom-ok's. Jo Geom-ok's eyes were full of cold air.

As the atmosphere between Jo Geom-ok and Jin Sa-wol became unusual, Bi-sun quietly moved away from the two and headed for his office.

As Bi-sun moved away, Jo Geom-ok smiled.

"Aren't you going to the gisaeng house?"

"Why there?"

"Since you're the innkeeper, you should go and check."

Although Jo Geom-ok smiled and spoke, her hand was on the hilt of her sword.

(End of Chapter)