Chapter 6: Friends
Shang Anjin, the head escort of Kunpeng Escort Agency, was stunned.
What kind of affinity did this woman possess?
She just became friends with the heir of the Hebei Peng Clan in an instant?
At first glance, she seemed carefree and a bit sloppy, but her networking skills were remarkable.
Not to mention, she was a late-stage peak expert!
The world was vast, and there were many hidden masters, so it wasn’t entirely strange that someone of her caliber remained unknown.
However, Shang Anjin was the pillar of an escort agency. If he just shrugged and said, “Ah, the world is full of hidden experts!” he might as well pack his bags and leave.
A pillar could be replaced. An escort agency wouldn’t collapse just because one was missing.
Connections! He could smell the scent of connections in the air.
Young experts were rare.
And the ‘young’ part was more important than the ‘expert’ part.
On top of that, she was an unaffiliated rogue cultivator.
In some ways, she might even be more valuable than the Peng Clan’s heir.
After all, Peng Daisan was already entangled in countless relationships.
Kunpeng Escort Agency operated across two provinces.
But compared to the Hebei Peng Clan, which was practically royalty in the region, there was no competition.
No matter how well he treated Peng Daisan, it was merely breaking even.
It was only natural for the Peng Clan to receive respect.
But A-Qing was different.
Just look at her—dressed in rags, stuffing her face like a starving beast!
It was clear she had lived a rough life.
“You seem to enjoy the braised flying pork. Hey, bring more over here!”
“Oh, you really don’t have to. I’m fine…”
“What are you saying? More braised flying pork, and lots of it!”
“N-no, really, this is too much…”
A-Qing trailed off, feeling both grateful and embarrassed.
Coming from a land of propriety and manners, she wasn’t used to an older man fussing over her like this.
If he had been some old bastard with a bad reputation, she would have cursed him out without hesitation.
But a kind elder? Her instincts, ingrained since birth, forced her to respect him.
“Three plates? Bold, aren’t you?”
“Hah? You got a problem?”
“You emptied two plates already. Was it that good?”
“Might as well eat while it’s there. No loss in that.”
Peng Daisan sighed deeply.
It wasn’t just shamelessness (though, she was definitely shameless).
It was a fundamental lack of common sense.
Judging by her behavior, it was doubtful she had ever been treated to a meal before.
“Leaving an empty plate is considered rude.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“It’s rude to clean your plate to the last bite. You should always leave at least a couple of pieces.”
A-Qing looked genuinely confused.
“You’re supposed to waste food?”
“Yes.”
“And if I don’t, it’s rude?”
“You really didn’t know?”
“Why waste good food?”
That was like asking why people eat, sleep, or breathe—it made no sense to her.
Peng Daisan clicked his tongue.
“Listen, an empty plate is an insult to the host.”
“Like how a swordsman’s back wounds are a disgrace?”
“…? That… makes sense, actually.”
The only thing guests were allowed to finish was alcohol.
Food should always be left unfinished.
An empty plate meant the host had failed to provide enough.
Whether it was due to financial struggles or stinginess, it implied the host had not treated their guest properly.
If a guest emptied the same dish twice?
It sent the message: Your hospitality was so lacking that this was the only decent thing to eat, haha!
A-Qing’s eyes widened in realization.
“Escort Chief, I didn’t know... I must’ve been rude.”
“Haha, it’s fine!”
Shang Anjin had already realized A-Qing was simply clueless.
Ignorance wasn’t rudeness.
Knowing and still refusing to act accordingly—that was rudeness.
“So I always have to leave food? No exceptions?”
“For a simple meal, it’s not a big deal. But when you’re treated to a feast, it’s best to leave at least two pieces.”
“Ohh. Never knew that.”
“What do you actually know?”
A-Qing was slowly becoming civilized.
Navigating different cultures was difficult because of these unspoken rules.
But this was an important lesson for Qing:
When someone treats you to a meal, leave some food.
A small sacrifice for future gains.
She had already eaten plenty, after all.
A-Qing had fully embraced the idea that experts naturally got treated to meals.
Meanwhile, Shang Anjin’s escort funds had already been exceeded thanks to skyrocketing food expenses.
Peng Daisan was unaware of this fact.
To him, being treated by the heir of the Peng Clan was as natural as breathing.
Why would he concern himself with an escort agency’s finances?
Not that Shang Anjin was at a complete loss.
It wasn’t just about investing in a promising young female expert for uncertain future returns.
No, he was already getting his money’s worth.
A wild bandit appeared!
“Halt!”
“…Troublesome. I’m strong.”
Lying on top of the leading carriage, basking in the warm spring sun, A-Qing lazily unsheathed her sword.
As soon as the silver gleam of her Moonlight Sword filled the air, the proud bandits immediately backpedaled, quietly retreating into the forest as if time itself had reversed.
It was a bizarre sight.
For merchants in the Central Plains, the biggest expense was the toll demanded by bandits.
A-Qing had always thought the region was overflowing with thieves.
Turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg.
For bandits, a lone swordsman with a weapon was a poor target.
There was no money in it, only risk.
Which meant few had dared to cross A-Qing.
Even so, her impression had been: Wow, this ancient China-like world is just crawling with bandits!
But after joining the escort agency, she saw the truth.
Every mountain had bandits.
Every valley had bandits.
Even the most deserted forests had bandits.
If Peng Daisan hadn’t explained that they shouldn’t attack unless provoked, A-Qing would’ve been racking up good karma points like crazy, leaving a trail of blood in her wake.
She realized something important.
Traveling with an escort agency meant easy meals and comfort.
But cutting down villains? That was a little harder.
She had to spill some blood at least once a week, though.
There was no such thing as a perfect path in this world.
Gain one thing, lose another.
But honestly? With a full belly and a comfortable journey, she didn’t really miss the bloodshed.
Besides, she had already acquired her long-sought-after Buddha’s Palm technique, so karma points didn’t entice her anymore. A thousand was way too much effort anyway.
Just as A-Qing was growing lazy, the escort agency’s caravan finally rolled into Luoyang.
— Luoyang —
Of course, Qing knew Luoyang was a city. A big one, probably.
She had read about it in Romance of the Three Kingdoms.
But she had only skimmed through the novel, so all she really knew was Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang.
Yet, the real Luoyang was massive and majestic, even by modern standards.
They didn’t call it Luoyang Fortress for nothing.
For countless centuries, the city had endured real wars, making it a formidable stronghold.
The walls stretched endlessly in both directions, taller than most modern commercial buildings.
Through the wide-open gates, a sea of people and carts flooded in and out like a living, breathing entity.
Honestly, A-Qing had always looked down on Central Plains civilization just a little.
Somewhere above cavemen but not quite advanced.
It was an inevitable bias, having grown up as a modern Korean.
After all, anything impressive from ancient China had long been burned away by the Red Revolution, so modern Koreans had neither seen nor heard of them.
But these walls—
She had thought she wouldn’t be impressed by height.
She had, after all, grown up in a time where Seoul was dominated by colossal skyscrapers like the Eye of Sauron Tower or whatever they were calling Seoul’s giant buildings these days.
Yet, the sheer density of the city was overwhelming.
Buildings were packed so tightly together that they shared walls, eliminating the very concept of alleys.
After unloading their cargo at Kunpeng Escort Agency’s Luoyang branch, enjoying a cup of tea with the branch master, and realizing there was nothing else to do, A-Qing turned to Peng Daisan.
“Hey, San.”
“No.”
“…What? I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“You were going to suggest sightseeing in Luoyang, weren’t you?”
Damn. He was right.
But A-Qing had a reason she couldn’t back down.
She was broke!
And standing right next to her was a very generous sponsor.
“Follow me quietly, and there will be no bloodshed.”
Peng Daisan gave her a flat look.
Sometimes, despite her overwhelming ignorance, she managed to pull out some really sophisticated words.
How?
“My Moonlight Sword is hungry. If you don’t want to become an offering to the Bloody Moon, guide me through Luoyang, mortal.”
“…Yeah, about that. I’ve been meaning to ask. Moonlight Sword? Isn’t it just a regular iron sword?”
“It’s customary to name one’s beloved weapon.”
Peng Daisan frowned.
One of the cardinal rules of Murim:
Never name your weapon.
Once a warrior became too attached to their blade, they would hesitate—and that hesitation could mean death.
However, knowing how recklessly A-Qing treated her Moonlight Sword, he didn’t bother explaining.
After all, he had once watched her poke a campfire with it (Moonlight Sword, no 6).
A swordsman using their blade as a fire poker wasn’t just reckless—it called their very qualifications into question.
“…Anyway, why Moonlight Sword?”
“Because I’ve mastered the Sword Art of the Yue Maiden.”
“…?”
“Sword Art of the Yue Maiden. Moonlight Sword.”
“…?”
“Don’t you get it? Moon Maiden, Moonlight?”
“…Let’s just drop it.”
For the record, Moon Maiden was shorthand for Kingdom of the Moon’s Maiden.
And no, the Kingdom of the Moon was not the actual moon.
Who would name a country after the moon?
“Anyway, let’s go, San. Luoyang awaits.”
“I said no.”
“I will pester you until you surrender. Resistance is futile.”
Peng Daisan’s brow twitched.
He had grown used to seeing her as a swordswoman, an ignorant fool, or a shameless beggar rather than a woman.
But her persistent clinginess made him suspicious.
Could this be… a strategy?
Was she… using feminine wiles?
His extreme battle-worn paranoia flared up unnecessarily.
Fortunately, A-Qing’s next words immediately smothered the spark before it could ignite.
“Dinner’s at Chosen Pavilion. Agreed?”
“…Do you even know what kind of place that is?”
“I overheard the escorts talking. They said it’s the best in Luoyang.”
That part was true.
Chosen Pavilion was the finest establishment in Luoyang.
“It’s expensive. And you don’t have money.”
“That’s what friends are for! When else will I get the chance to dine at the best place in town? Right, San?”
She wasn’t even trying to be subtle.
It wasn’t seduction—it was pure freeloading.
Peng Daisan’s suspicions faded.
Instead, he felt… oddly annoyed.
Why?
“Fine. I’ll be generous. But don’t expect—”
“Deal.”
“…Huh?”
“I said deal. Take me to Choseon Pavilion.”
A-Qing blinked.
“Wait, really? Isn’t it super expensive? San, are you serious? You’re really that rich?”
“…Are you asking if I can afford it?”
“I was just negotiating. Always start with a big request, then lower it if rejected.”
Sometimes, buried beneath her ignorance, A-Qing would say something unexpectedly sharp.
This time, it was particularly cutting.
Peng Daisan mulled over her words.
Mistaking his silence for hesitation, A-Qing grinned apologetically.
“If it’s too much, forget it. I was just throwing it out there.”
His brow twitched again.
Did she really not know who he was?
“…Do you even understand what the Hebei Peng Clan is?”
“Hebei Peng Clan. The head escort keeps saying it all the time.”
“…And do you know what that means?”
“You don’t have to brag about being rich—oh, wait. Oof. Sorry. I wasn’t trying to insult your pride or anything. Don’t take it to heart.”
She didn’t know.
She thought his family was just some famous rich household.
There were levels to ignorance.
The people Qing had encountered in her life were either low-class thugs or struggling Murim warriors.
People who wouldn’t dare even whisper the names of the Five Great Clans.
Talking behind the Nine Major Sects might earn you a beating, but if you badmouthed the Five Great Clans?
At minimum, you’d lose an arm.
At minimum.
“Choseon Pavilion is nothing to me. Let’s go.”
That was the truth.
Though, his pride had been slightly scratched.
More importantly, his agreement wasn’t an act of generosity.
He had his own reasons for not wanting to go out.
And he was also very curious about how Qing would react to a
courtesan house.
Completely oblivious, Qing happily rushed out the door—
Only to run straight into a gathering of Luoyang’s most beautiful women.
