Taiyuan was home to a fair number of fairly well-known wealthy folks.
The Wang Family Head, known as a great merchant, was one such notable rich man.
"Ugh. What a fine day. After all, daytime drinking is the best."
Sitting at the long table spread out in the courtyard, the Wang Family Head wiped his lips with his sleeve after downing a full cup of Yeohong—the finest and most expensive of the red rice wines—in one go.
"Plum liquor with Yeohong? Thanks to you, Wang, I'm living it up today."
"Hahaha. What do you mean 'living it up' with this?"
Shaking his plump cheeks, the Wang Family Head let out a hearty laugh before pouring more of the crimson Yeohong into his friend's empty cup, a satisfied smile on his face.
"So, how's the world out there these days?"
No sooner had he poured the second cup than the Wang Family Head got down to business. The informant Gu Family Head clicked his tongue.
'Damn cheapskate. Looks like he's not even planning to buy two bottles.'
Gu, a close friend of Wang and a famed informant in Taiyuan, wasn't part of the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion or the Beggars' Clan, but his knowledge of information rivaled theirs. That's why so many sought him out. For big jobs, he asked for money, but otherwise, he demanded good booze and food instead.
'Stingy bastard.'
Most folks waited until after one bottle before getting to the point, so Wang's question came pretty early.
But one couldn't be stingy with a local big shot like Wang.
Gu forced a smile onto his lips.
"Eh, nothing major making the rounds."
"Nothing at all?"
Seeing Wang's expression—like he'd called him for nothing—Gu hurriedly continued.
"No, that's not to say there's absolutely nothing."
"Then what is there?"
"Word is the third son of the Diamond Escort Agency is back."
"...And what does that have to do with me?"
The Wang Family Head looked bored as he nibbled just a tiny bit of the pickled plum.
Judging by the amount he ate, it seemed like he was saving the rest for tomorrow.
"It does matter. You owe the Diamond Escort Agency, don't you?"
"You think that bankrupt agency would dare come demanding repayment from me?"
"It's not just any bankrupt agency."
The informant Gu Family Head filled his cup to overflowing with Yeohong and downed it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Wang's expression hardened for a moment.
"Word is, the third son came back and smashed Ma Du-gwang flat."
"Ma Du-gwang? That Ma Du-gwang from the Silver Push Sect? The one who does loan sharking for King Yama Branch?"
"That's the one. A notorious Black Dao crew around these parts, and they all got wrecked. You'd best watch yourself."
Wang snorted and shoved half the plum into his mouth.
But he quickly realized his mistake, spat it out, and took only the tiniest bite.
"You know who heads my household guard?"
"Sure. Some fallen third-rate clan head, right?"
"Nah, I fired that guy for always demanding more money. Hired someone new instead. Cost a few hundred more nyang, even."
Hearing the miserly Wang had spent extra money intrigued the informant Gu.
"Who could make a penny-pincher like you...?"
"What'd you call me?"
"Nothing. I was just asking who was worth shelling out for."
"A lay disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, no less. One of those grand Nine Great Sects and One Gang!"
A glint flashed in Gu's eyes at those words.
'This guy hired from Mount Hua?!'
Mount Hua Sect, in neighboring Shaanxi Province, was one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, famed for their dazzling Illusory Sword.
Even a lay disciple without access to secret arts would have considerable skill.
Hiring such a warrior as household guard captain wasn't cheap.
"A Mount Hua lay disciple should have a name. What's his?"
"Lee Ja-myeong."
"What?! One of the Plum Blossom Six Swords? Your guard captain is a Plum Blossom Six Sword?!"
Satisfied by Gu's shocked look, Wang grinned.
"Heh. That's right."
Mount Hua transmitted their supreme art, the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Forms, only to direct disciples, not lay ones.
Lay disciples learned the downgraded Plum Blossom Six Immortal Swords instead—a first-rate technique in its own right.
And Lee Ja-myeong, as his title suggested, had mastered it beyond the sixth form, earning fame in Shaanxi and Shanxi.
"You're insane, hiring a guy like that as guard captain."
"Heh, cost a pretty penny."
"I see."
Gu briefly thought, 'Wouldn't it have been better to just pay off the debt with that money?' But he kept it to himself.
No customer liked hearing criticism.
"No wonder you're so confident, Wang. Who'd dare challenge the Plum Blossom Six Swords?"
"Heh, no one. Even Ma Du-gwang would piss himself in fear. What, the Diamond Escort Agency's fourth son?"
"Third son."
"You think a punk like that would dare demand repayment to my face? Hahaha. Tell him to screw off."
Wang threw his chest out with smug confidence, belting out a booming laugh.
And right then—
Boom!
The Wang Family Head's front gate exploded into splinters that flew into the courtyard.
"What the—? Who dares smash our gate without fear...!"
"Heh, fearless indeed. Smashing the gate of a house guarded by the Plum Blossom Six Swords."
Frowning, Wang bellowed loud enough for the intruder to hear.
"Plum Blossom Six Swords! Help me! We've got an intruder!"
Even though the Plum Blossom Six Swords was drinking not far from the shattered gate, Wang showed no fear.
He was certain the man would handle whoever it was.
"Plum Blossom Six Swords, quit slacking and get out here!"
Wang shouted furiously and lowered his arm to set down his cup.
That's when something flew into the courtyard.
Its face a bloody mess, body curled like a shrimp, tumbling through the air—it was a warrior very familiar to Wang.
"...Huh?"
Whoosh—
The Plum Blossom Six Swords shot in like an arrow, smashing the liquor table far away and taking its place.
"Ack!?"
Wang, trying to set down his cup on the table, ended up dropping it right onto the man's face.
"P-Plum Blossom Six Swords?"
Lee Ja-myeong of the Plum Blossom Six Swords, who had proudly guarded the household in his flowing purple robes.
Now he lay before Wang like a human ball, foam bubbling from his mouth.
'W-Who the hell turned the Plum Blossom Six Swords into a ball?!'
The expensive Mount Hua lay disciple sprawled on the table instead of the drinks.
Wang couldn't believe his eyes.
"W-Who are you?! How dare you...!"
"Me, you bastard."
Moo-jin strode into the courtyard through the gateless entrance.
"Hey, you. I hear you've got some nerve."
Moo-jin glared at Wang, eyes blazing, nostrils flaring.
He looked just like a mountain tiger, making Wang's legs tremble involuntarily.
"A Mount Hua lay disciple, huh? So what?"
"Eek!"
Unable to control his shaking, Wang stumbled backward, falling under the table and rolling on the ground.
"Want me to make you like that? Knead you into a nice round dumpling?"
"S-Spare me, sir."
"Spare you? Begging for your life? Then pay up the loan right now."
"Y-Yes! I'll pay! G-Give you every last coin!"
The bravado from moments ago gone, Wang groveled, snot and tears streaming as he rubbed his hands together.
"..."
Watching this, informant Gu smirked faintly.
'Serves you right.'
Gu quietly pocketed the remaining plums and Yeohong.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Taiyuan's Ma's Gourmet Inn was famous for generous portions at cheap prices, thanks to the owner's goodwill.
Whenever juicy rumors stirred up the town, the place was packed. Today was no different—crowded to the point of barely having standing room.
"Heard the rumor? About the Diamond Escort Agency's third son. That runaway kid came back a master."
"The little squirt who left to learn martial arts?!"
"I heard too. They say he's reached the Golden Bell Indestructible realm."
Those in the know scoffed at the reactions from others who hadn't heard yet.
"Pfft, nonsense."
"Golden Bell Indestructible? What, like some dog's name? Even Shaolin's warrior monks haven't achieved it. As if an escort kid has."
"Right. Probably just trained some external arts. Their family had a Shaolin lay disciple, didn't they?"
"Guys, this isn't for us to speculate. Ask a Shaolin man about Shaolin."
At one guest's words, every eye turned to the same spot.
There sat a defrocked monk, his closely shaved head starting to grow stubble, gnawing on a chicken leg.
"Huh? Me?"
"Yeah, Mun-sang. You're from Shaolin, right? What do you think? Is the Diamond Escort third son at Golden Bell Indestructible?"
"...C-Can that even be possible?"
Mun-sang scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
He wasn't a proper Shaolin monk—just a handyman who'd swept the yards and eaten there—so he didn't know much about Golden Bell or techniques.
'Still, Golden Bell is only recorded in Shaolin history books. No one's actually achieved it, far as I know.'
Having overheard some rumors himself, Mun-sang finished the chicken leg down to the bone before speaking.
"Impossible, if you ask me. Golden Bell's a myth. If he was a Shaolin lay disciple, maybe he trained hard in Diamond Art and looks the part."
"Really?"
"Knew it."
Bolstered by Mun-sang's words, the convinced crowd started murmuring again.
"Still impressive, though. Word is he smashed Ma Du-gwang of Silver Push Sect, the Wangs next village over, and even the Mas with their dozens of horses."
"Yeah, and that great Mount Hua Plum Blossom Six Swords got wrecked too."
"No way, really?"
"Yep. Folks are calling him Plum Blossom Six Armors now. Haven't you heard?"
"Holy crap."
Their eyes widened in shock.
For non-martial folk, abstract stuff like Diamond Art or Golden Bell paled next to concrete news of who got smashed.
"Silver Push Sect's Ma Du-gwang, the Wangs, the Mas, and even Merchant Yoo of Yugu Merchant Group..."
"Got it! He beat up his debtors and those Black Dao loan sharks!"
"So the debts are all paid now?"
"Probably. At this rate, not many left owing."
"Hold on. Mun-sang, didn't you borrow from the Diamond Escort Agency too?"
Eyes turned back to the defrocked monk.
Mun-sang, picking up another chicken leg, went pale as if a bone were stuck in his throat.
"Tsk tsk. Better pay up quick. Heard Merchant Yoo tried holding out, got his teeth smashed, and now lives on porridge."
A man with notably blackened fingertips shook his head sympathetically and patted Mun-sang's shoulder.
"Heading out already?"
"Gotta go. Can't listen to the wife nagging."
"See ya!"
"Catch you later!"
After light farewells to the table, the man pretended to head for the exit but slipped into a gap behind the pillar beside the door.
That space led to an underground secret room known only to Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion disciples.
Moving silently into the empty room, he approached the table, picked up a brush, and wrote.
Master at Diamond Escort Agency. Subdued Crimson Flame Gang Patrol Agent I-mok. Estimated peak expert or higher. Urgently request warrior dispatch.
Crash!
A racket from above made the Heavenly Fragrance disciple frown.
"What happened?"
"Sorry, sir. Minor disturbance. The defrocked monk Mun-sang fainted and fell."
"Who attacked him? Kang Moo-jin?"
"No. He panicked, crammed chicken into his mouth to eat fast, and choked."
"...?"
The baffled disciple got an explanation from his subordinate.
"Said he was trying to scarf it down and flee before Kang Moo-jin showed up..."
"..."
The two men's sighs filled the underground chamber.