Chapter 88: Dan Mujin Troubleshooter Central Plains Branch

“Lord Hwangbo, did this lady hear correctly just now?”

The faint fragrance of tea spread through the space.

A noble-looking woman stirred her teacup, then paused, asking again with a slightly startled expression.

“The young hero who saved you was named Dan Mujin?”

Hwangbo Gong bowed respectfully and replied.

“Yes. He was a young man, full of righteousness and chivalry. And he even said something strange—that he knew Princess Peach Blossom……”

“Hehe, of course I know him. How could I ever forget that audacious youth?”

Princess Peach Blossom answered with a faint smile at her lips.

That young man had once told her, with great confidence, that she could call upon him anytime for help, since he possessed many talents.

Though brash, his demeanor had never been unpleasant. His figure flashed through her mind once more.

“It seems I have once again received his help, albeit unintentionally. Wouldn’t you agree, Cheonsugong?”

“Indeed…… Last time as well, when I was chasing traces of the Silkworm Breeding Officer, I received his aid. A strange fate, is it not?”

Reports from the Eastern Depot had already been mentioning the name Dan Mujin more and more frequently.

From the Murim Alliance in Shaanxi all the way to the Imperial Palace here in Beijing, the youth known as the Dog-Beating Dragon was said to be making a name for himself.

“And to sweep aside Hao Sect’s elite fighters in one stroke…… it seems his martial arts have grown considerably since then, Princess.”

After the incident, the Eastern Depot had dispatched a full-scale investigation into the brothel and its events.

Thus, they were able to estimate the current level of this youth named Dan Mujin.

Unbelievable as it was, reports suggested that at the mere age of fifteen, he had reached the realm of a Peak Martial Artist. Some eyewitnesses even claimed to have seen white flames of Staff Qi bursting from him.

“……The realm of a Peak Martial Artist. I know little of murim matters, but I do know that such a level is not easily attained, Cheonsugong.”

“Yes. It is a significant realm. Especially at his age—it can only be called an unbelievable talent.”

Experts were beings even the factions within the Imperial Palace coveted.

And in times such as these, when palace intrigues were rampant, even more so.

“Is that so…… Would it be possible to keep him at this lady’s side?”

“Well…… Princess, I could attempt to persuade him, but……”

“But?”

“……I doubt that brat would listen.”

Cheonsugong recalled the time when he traveled with him to Baekyangchon.

Even after learning his true identity, the boy had dared to argue back shamelessly.

But that same brat had displayed astonishing talent—mimicking techniques he saw only once, and instinctively sensing killing intent in others.

So he had tried to recruit him.

But the boy had refused, going so far as to insult eunuchs in front of one, and even boasted of his own sense of righteousness.

Clearly not in his right mind, Cheonsugong had eventually given up on persuading him.

“He’s liable to cause trouble, so it would be best to reconsider keeping him close.”

“Hmm, to that extent…… Very well. Since it is your opinion, I shall accept it.”

Princess Peach Blossom nodded, though her expression dimmed slightly at the thought of such a wasted talent.

“Still, when the need arises, hiring him as a wanderer might be wise.”

For all his unruly nature, his ability was undeniable.

Especially his ability to sense killing intent more keenly than a dog’s nose for scent. If he were stationed near the Princess, he would prove invaluable against spies or assassins.

“A wanderer, is it…… Now that you mention it, I heard he has opened some sort of troubleshooter’s office in Beijing.”

Hwangbo Gong suddenly recalled and muttered aloud.

“A troubleshooter’s office?”

“Yes, Princess. They say it’s a place that will resolve anything for money, no matter what it is.”

“Resolve anything, you say…… like how he revived the dying sericulture industry…….”

Whether martial arts, knowledge, or the courage to meet a princess’s eyes directly and ask to be employed—

Though Cheonsugong advised against keeping him close, the young man’s peculiarity drew Princess Peach Blossom’s interest against her will.

“Truly fascinating.”

I had borrowed a large sum of capital from Elder Sister Eun Hwaran.

And it was even interest-free, with no repayment deadline. In the Central Plains, where predatory usury was the norm.

Such was the privilege of having a sworn sister.

Even when I fought against the Blood Cult alongside the Murim Alliance, I had never received this much money.

“What do I do, this kindness is so great it makes me feel indebted.”

I would need to repay it quickly. Otherwise, the next time I helped her, it would feel less like an act of goodwill and more like repaying a debt.

Bang!

Thinking that, I kicked open the door of Madam Jang’s Broker’s Office.

“Oh my, customer?”

Madam Jang lifted her eyes in surprise from the book she had been reading, startled by my bold entrance.

Thud!

Without a word, I set down a heavy chest full of coins onto her desk.

When I opened the lid, golden light spilled out, and her eyes filled with greed.

“Oh my, my! Customer, you’ve already prepared this much money? You’re more capable than you look.”

She laughed like a pawnbroker’s wife, playfully slapping my arm.

I cut to the chase and demanded the best land available in Beijing for that money.

“Madam Jang, the very best place.”

“……Well, with this, the very best is impossible.”

Damn it, so places like Beijing’s version of Gangnam or Seongsu-dong were out of reach.

“Then the second best!”

“Hmm, that too is difficult.”

“……Then the third best!”

“Ah, that might be possible.”

Without Eun Hwaran’s loan, opening shop inside the city would have been impossible.

And so, I devoted all my accumulated wealth to secure land in Beijing.

I managed to open a business in the third most prosperous district.

“What do you think, Ilhong? This is our office.”

It was a slightly old but charming two-story commercial building.

Compared to the prime location I had shown her before, the visibility and foot traffic were lacking. But still, it wasn’t bad for a first business.

Life wasn’t about filling your stomach on the first spoonful. I would earn money and gradually move to better places.

“But isn’t the building a bit old?”

As expected of someone raised in Beijing’s core districts, her standards were high.

“A little paint and decoration will fix that. We don’t have money to rebuild.”

In this era, due to costs and techniques, most buildings were about the same in height and floors.

We could use the ground floor for clients and the upper floor as living quarters.

I explained this plan to Ilhong.

Her expression turned curious.

“Boss, then…….”

“Hm? What.”

“Doesn’t that mean we’ll be living in the same space now? Like a bridal chamber?”

“……Hmph.”

Correction.

The ground floor would serve both as office and my room, while the upper floor would be Ilhong’s private quarters.

When I explained that, she pouted slightly.

“I was joking, geez. You always treat me like some tomboy, but now…….”

“Even when I give you your own room, you still complain.”

I had only changed the plan because she seemed worried.

Clearly, she had never experienced the orphanage life, where eight people were crammed into one room.

“Well then, shall we prepare for the grand opening?”

At last, I had my own home in this vast Central Plains.

The wandering drifter, with no place to belong for years, had finally become a permanent resident of Beijing.

The opening day arrived.

In a commercial district a little outside the busy heart of Beijing—

The newly renovated building now displayed a fresh signboard.

“Dan Mujin Troubleshooter Central Plains Branch……? Boss, what’s a troubleshooter?”

Ilhong frowned in puzzlement as she looked at the name written in bold brushstrokes by the calligrapher.

“Troubleshooter. To raise something up is to make hidden things come to light. That’s the idea.”

Not merely a wandering swordsman for hire. A troubleshooter provided quality information, and if the client wished, even various forms of labor.

“And what’s with all those strange phrases……”

She pointed uneasily at the blunt promotional slogans I had hung at the shop entrance.

“A Peak Martial Artist that surpasses Peak Martial Artists!”

‘A martial artist who almost won the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament!’

‘A skilled ex-Grade-B wanderer (to be certified) will help with anything!’

Tiny scribbles of unnecessary truths beneath the large letters.

Ilhong gave me a pitying look, as if to say no one else would stoop to such shameless advertising.

“Hey now, this is marketing. Marketing. Don’t you know what that is?”

“Of course not. What is it?”

A subordinate who couldn’t even grasp the deep intent of the boss.

Truly, the road ahead was still long.

Anyway, while we bickered outside the office, professional banquet workers sent by Eun Hwaran the Trading Lord began arriving one by one.

They swiftly set up tables and mats in the street, rolled in barrels of liquor, and started cooking food with the tools they had brought.

The smell of stir-fried meat and liquor drifted out, drawing curious people from the neighborhood.

“Come on in! Have a bite of delicious meat! Dan Mujin Troubleshooter is celebrating its grand opening today!”

It was only proper to spend some money when opening a business.

Throwing a banquet attracted people, created an impression, and doubled as promotion.

Shops that opened quietly often ended up closing just as quietly later.

“We’ve even got liquor that’ll hit you straight in the throat! Come and have a drink!”

Who in the Central Plains could resist free meat and free liquor?

I called out like a street hawker, gathering people in. If only I had a dancing balloon or a booming speaker for music, it would’ve been perfect.

Without those, I simply raised my voice all the louder.

“Looking for a runaway husband? Want to track down someone who ran off with your money? Come here! Dan Mujin will solve it all for you!”

Though there was no rousing music, Cheonhwa Pavilion had sent an apprentice courtesan, who played music to liven the mood.

The banquet grew lively, and more and more people gathered.

“Troubleshooter? Isn’t that what unorthodox fellows do, handling anything for a price?”

“But the Dog-Beating Dragon is supposed to be an orthodox martial artist. What an odd one he is.”

“Forget it, just drink! When will we get free booze again?”

The saddest thing in the world was a feast without guests, but at least our Troubleshooter Office had made its presence known in a bustling atmosphere.

And of course, no banquet was complete without beggars. Before long, the beggars of Beijing had taken seats, happily enjoying the leftovers and drink.

The more beggars swarmed on a feast day, the more prosperous it was said to be, so there was no need to chase them away.

Besides, it reminded me of my own beggar days, loitering in the back alleys.

“……Hmm?”

Then, among the beggars, I spotted a very familiar face.

An old man with a long, scraggly beard, gulping down liquor at the mere mention of free booze.

“That fellow…… what is he doing here?”

The sight of him gave me an instant headache.

That man never failed to appear whenever there was food and drink.

“Boss, is that by any chance Hwang…….”

“Let’s just pretend we didn’t see him.”

“Yes, sir.”

Strictly speaking, he was a beggar after all.

Though he insisted he was a Daoist.

“If only the Beggars’ Union would just take him away already.”

I had already sent word through Majungcheon, but perhaps they were being cautious, afraid he would flee again the moment they approached.

For some reason, the Beggars’ Union’s silence felt particularly disappointing today.

“Hrrhrrhrrh, this wine is fine indeed……!”

A week had passed since the grand opening.

The Floor Manager of Cheonhwa Pavilion, Juwol-a, Eun Hwaran, and several acquaintances had all visited in turn, making the office quite lively.

The flowers, orchids, folding screens, and porcelain they had gifted now filled the reception area.

But after another week passed, the flow of visitors suddenly stopped dead.

No more acquaintances were left to come, and though the opening was loud, not a single new client had shown up.

“What’s this? How can there be no clients at all……?”

Fifteen years of experience as a troubleshooter, yet this was the greatest crisis of my life.

On top of that, this type of office had to pay government taxes every quarter, so money was urgently needed.

I turned to our Hao Sect successor, Ilhong, for insight.

“Troubleshooters are usually what half-baked unorthodox martial artists do.”

Meaning, our office might have been tainted with that same preconception.

A difficult wall to break through.

“And if a wealthy patron wanted to hire a Peak Martial Artist, they’d go straight to the Wanderers’ Guild instead…….”

Another painful truth from her lips. Who would risk hiring us, when trust was lacking?

So not just prejudice, but distrust as well. The only solution would be proving ourselves through results.

“The problem is, we don’t have a client to prove anything with. Damn it.”

Back in Korea, my name alone brought clients in droves whenever I moved offices.

Clang, clang.

At that moment, the iron plate at the door rattled fiercely.

The signal of a client’s arrival.

“Welcome!”

I jumped up to greet them.

Looking closely, the sharp eyes and face were familiar.

“Ah, what the—It’s Tang Yeo-hye, Noona.”

I let out a sigh and flopped back into my seat.

“Hah, unbelievable. Why are you sighing just from seeing my face?”

Tang Yeo-hye laughed bitterly, as if dumbfounded by my reaction.

“I thought it was a client.”

“I am a client, you know?”

She plopped down in the chair across from me.

“Oh, a client? Ilhong, bring her some tea.”

We had some old, bitter tea leaves kept for troublesome visitors.

“So, do you even have money?”

She had run away from home, cut off from support, and always seemed to be scraping by. Hard to believe she could afford us.

Thump.

Yet this time, she dropped a heavy coin pouch right onto the desk.

“Ilhong, bring her some snacks too.”

So she really was a client. I rubbed my hands together and leaned in eagerly.

“So then, Miss Client, what brings you to our office?”

If she was a client, she deserved the treatment. What did it matter if it was through connections? I was desperate.

“You said you’d accept any request back then. Anything, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

If there was demand, I would supply it—for a price.

That was the motto of a troubleshooter. From gathering evidence of infidelity to playing the scary uncle for bullied schoolchildren.

There were virtually no boundaries to the roles I could fill.

“Wait, don’t tell me—no human experiments with poison, okay?”

I hugged myself defensively as I said that.

She had spiked my meals before, after all.

“Nothing like that……. This is about my clan.”

Her clan…… surely she meant the Tang Clan of Sichuan.

Come to think of it, I remembered how she had desperately avoided the gaze of a Tang Clan elder during the Murim Alliance gathering.

“……Hey, you.”

“Yes? What is it?”

What kind of request needed such hesitation?

Her crimson lips moved restlessly.

“Marry me…….”

“……?”

What the hell?

Crash.

Behind me, Ilhong tripped and fell, dropping the tea and snacks she had been carrying.

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