As the line shuffled forward, reality began to sink in for Jin Tae-Yun.
- I have legendary artifacts, a horse that could outrun a gale, and enough gold to buy a kingdom back in the game… but I don't have a single copper of local currency.
He glanced at the gate. People were handing over small silver and copper coins. His inventory was filled with "Abyssal Gold"—huge, ornate coins that would likely cause a riot if he pulled one out now. He needed a middleman.
His eyes fell on the wagon directly in front of him. It was an elegant carriage, guarded by four stern-faced men whose hands never strayed far from their blade hilts. On the side of the wooden frame was a meticulously painted logo: a white crane in flight.
Peering out from the wagon window was a young boy, perhaps ten or eleven years old. Unlike the tired travelers around them, the boy's eyes were sharp, darting around with a predatory curiosity.
Tae-Yun offered a small, calculated smile.
The boy didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned out further.
- "You've been staring for a while, Mister. You definitely aren't from around here. Looking at that silk attire and that… marvelous horse, you seem quite wealthy. What do you want?"
Tae-Yun was impressed. The kid was sharp.
Tae-Yun replied
-"I'm Jin Tae-Yun a traveler from a far-off continent,
And while I might look the part, I'm currently in a bit of a bind. I was robbed by bandits a few days ago. I have no local currency for the entry fee."
The boy clucked his tongue, though his eyes remained cold.
-"That's a sad story. I'm Han Soo-bin, the Young Master of the White Crane Merchant Union. I'd love to help, but we don't do charity. Tell you what—I'll buy that horse off you. It's a fine beast. I'll give you enough to live like a king for a year."
Tae-Yun chuckled. A merchant to the bone.
-"I'm afraid the horse isn't for sale, Young Master Soo-bin. However...
I have something else that might interest a man of your status."
He reached into the leather pouch attached to his saddle, masking the fact that he was actually pulling an item from his system inventory.
He pulled his hand out and opened his palm.
Resting there was a small, exquisite statue of a dragon carved from translucent emerald. It was a game item
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[Dragon's Breath Idol] -
-a low-tier buff item
-It granted a permanent +1 HP daily.
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Soo-bin's eyes nearly tripled in size.
- "Is that… pure emerald?"
He snatched it, his small hands trembling. He wasn't a martial artist yet, but as a scion of a merchant family, he had practiced basic breathing techniques to keep his mind sharp. The moment his skin touched the statue, he felt a warm, rhythmic thrumming of energy.
-"This… it's breathing,"
Soo-bin whispered.
-"The Qi is so pure."
Tae-Yun explained.
-"It has a nourishing effect,Keep it near you, and your constitution will improve over time."
-"One hundred gold coins,"
Soo-bin blurted out.
Tae-Yun raised an eyebrow and let out a light laugh.
-"Is that a fair price, Young Master?"
Soo-bin turned red, realizing he'd been caught trying to low-ball a legendary item.
-"Fine! One hundred and twenty gold coins. But on one condition!"
From the front of the wagon, an elderly attendant in grey robes cleared his throat.
-"Young Master, that is an exorbitant amount of liquidity to give a stranger—"
-"Quiet, Elder Lu! I know what I'm doing,"
Soo-bin snapped, before looking back at Tae-Yun.
-"The condition is this: You must become my friend. And when you reach the capital, you must visit the White Crane Union headquarters. Deal?"
Tae-Yun smiled. Having a powerful merchant connection was worth more than the gold. -"Deal."
After receiving a heavy pouch of gold and silver, Tae-Yun pointed toward the gate.
- "The man who jumped from the wall earlier… who is he?"
-"That's Captain Baek Mu-Shin,"
Soo-bin said, his voice full of respect.
-"A Second-Rate Master of the Blue Cloud Sword style. He's a righteous man and the City Lord's most trusted blade. Don't cause trouble around him."
Soon, it was Tae-Yun's turn. The guards checked Soo-bin's papers and waved the wagon through. Then, a guard stepped in front of Tae-Yun's horse.
-"Entry fee is five silver coins,"
the guard said, but his eyes were on the Captain, who was walking over.
Captain Baek Mu-Shin approached, his hand resting on his sword. He looked at Tae-Yun's strange clothes and the massive stallion.
-"Unfamiliar face. Unfamiliar style. Explain yourself."
Tae-Yun maintained a humble but firm posture.
- "I am a traveler from the West, Captain. I was recently waylaid by bandits and lost my traveling papers. I only wish for a bed and a warm meal."
Baek Mu-Shin narrowed his eyes. He felt a strange pressure coming from the man—not an aggressive one, but a steady, impenetrable wall of energy.
-"A traveler with a horse like that? And a blade like that? Show me your weapon."
Tae-Yun hesitated for a second before dismounting. He drew the Thunder Katana.
The air hissed.
The blade was a masterpiece of dark steel, but its edge glowed with a faint, ethereal blue light. Small, violent sparks of electricity crackled along the length of the metal, snapping in the quiet air.
Thunder Qi? Baek Mu-Shin's heart skipped a beat. Only the legendary masters of the hidden sect Heavenly Thunder Sect can manifest lightning through their blades. And this man... I can't even sense the depth of his internal shield.
He assumed Tae-Yun was a Young Master from a hidden, ancient sect out on a "world-viewing" journey.
-"A magnificent blade,"
the Captain said, his voice notably softer and more respectful.
-"What is its name?"
-"The Thunder Dragon's Fang,"
Tae-Yun improvised.
Baek Mu-Shin nodded solemnly.
-"Forgive my suspicion. A man of your caliber is welcome in our city Azure Gate. Guard! Issue him a high-priority transit seal."
He turned back to Tae-Yun.
-"If you seek quality, go to the Silver Moon Inn. It is the best lodging in the district."
-"Thank you, Captain."
Tae-Yun entered the city, and his senses were immediately overwhelmed. The main thoroughfare was a riot of color and sound. Merchants shouted their prices, stalls sold steaming dumplings that smelled of ginger and pork, and the architecture was a stunning display of curved tiled roofs and red-lacquered wood.
Following the Captain's directions, he found a large, three-story building with a hanging silver moon sign.
A young man ran out to meet him.
-"Welcome! I'm Dori, the stable hand. Shall I take your horse, sir?"
Tae-Yun handed him the reins and tossed him a single gold coin. Dori's jaw hit the floor.
Tae-Yun said
-"Take special care of him. The best feed you have,"
-"Y-yes, Master! Right away! Lady Hwa is at the counter, she'll get you settled!"
Dori scurried away, leading the horse as if it were made of glass.
When Tae-Yun stepped inside the inn, the raucous laughter and clinking of glasses died down instantly. Every eye followed him. In his midnight-blue coat and with his tall, athletic frame, he looked like a high-born noble who had wandered into a commoner's tavern.
He walked to the counter, where a beautiful woman with sharp, intelligent eyes watched him.
Tae-Yun said
-"Captain Baek recommended this place, I'd like a room for four days."
Lady Hwa smiled gracefully.
-"The Captain has good taste. Seven silver coins a day, meals included."
Tae-Yun paid for four days in advance.
-"Please send the meal to my room. I've had a long journey."
Once inside his room, he locked the door and finally exhaled. The room was clean, with a soft bed and a large porcelain tub. He stripped off his travel-worn clothes and stepped into the water.
As he dried off, he caught his reflection in a polished bronze mirror.
He froze.
It was his face—the same jawline and eyes—but perfected. The dark circles from years of corporate overtime were gone. His skin was clear, his hair thicker, and his body was corded with lean, powerful muscle. He looked younger, stronger, and more vibrant than he ever had in his old life.
The system didn't just bring my items, he realized. It brought the 'Perfected' version of me.
A knock at the door signaled his dinner. He ate a bowl of rich beef noodle soup and stir-fried greens that tasted fresher than anything he'd ever eaten on Earth.
As he climbed into the soft bed, the sounds of the bustling Murim city drifting in through the window, Jin Tae-Yun felt a sense of peace.
"Tomorrow, the real exploration begins."