Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin

Chapter 56: Grand Opening

After the chilly dawn passed, the morning sun rose.

The moment I opened my eyes, the city we arrived in was Kaifeng, located in Henan.

It was where the Beggars’ Union’s main headquarters was, and also one of the Seven Ancient Capitals of the Central Plains, with commerce flourishing thanks to the Grand Canal.

“Boss, your eyes are all sunken. Didn’t you get any sleep?”

Ilhong, who had taken the night watch, asked me brightly.

“Yeah, I just dozed off a bit.”

That’s because there was a woman who declared in front of the Heaven-Slaying Star that she would kill the Heaven-Slaying Star.

We had taken the watch together, and even slept nearby, so of course I couldn’t get proper rest.

I glanced at the large greatsword slung over Jo Harang’s back and reflexively rubbed my neck as if chilled.

“Did something happen with Lady Jo Harang?”

“Thankfully, nothing.”

At first, I thought she might have said it to see how I’d react or because she recognized who I was.

But after observing her closely, I didn’t sense any killing intent. She even snored while sleeping soundly, so I decided to let my guard down—for now.

However, there was the glaring bloodied body still keeping a sharp watch on her.

Just for today, I wanted to praise that tenacity. She’s a person of interest—keep observing.

“Mujin! Look at this! I’ve never seen such a huge canal before!”

On the other hand, Jo Harang, who had shared her dreams and honest feelings with me last night, approached with heightened familiarity.

She said things like “You’ve really built up good karma,” and acted like she had found someone she could trust. Could she be like me—able to see things?

“Mujin! Mujin! Look at that! A boat the size of a house is floating!”

“Stop hitting me and talk properly, it hurts.”

That’s something I learned last night. When she gets excited, she has a habit of smacking my shoulder repeatedly.

She doesn’t even know how strong she is.

And every time her hand touches me, the bloodied body reacts like a wildcat meeting its natural enemy, hissing and snarling.

“Woahhh!”

“So this is the legendary Kaifeng!”

“It’s as dazzling and bustling as Beijing!”

Even Lord Jo and his tour group family looked amazed as they stared at the city gates.

They had traveled around quite a bit, but this was their first time in Kaifeng.

Their eyes spun as they took in the enormous canal cutting through the city and the ships transporting goods through the connected waterways.

“If we’re in Kaifeng, we’ve got to see the Iron Pagoda at Kaibao Temple first! I heard it reaches the sky!”

“What are you talking about? We’ve got to check out the shopping district first! It’s famous as the City That Never Sleeps! They say you can find anything there!”

The Jo family siblings were bouncing with excitement.

Lord Jo proposed to us wanderers that we split up for now and reconvene at this spot in a few days after our individual tours.

Wealthy people really do live at ease.

“Mujin, where are you planning to look around first?”

Jo Harang asked with eyes sparkling like stars.

For some reason, whenever I looked at her, my eyes first went to that terrifying greatsword.

No way she’s planning to follow me, right?

“Wherever you aren’t.”

“Wow, how mean!”

She pouted as if wounded.

“Kidding. I’ve got things to do first. I’ll turn the bandits in at the Magistrate Office and look into a few things. So you go explore first.”

When we walked through the city gate earlier, people were whispering while looking at the tied-up bandits.

Lord Jo puffed his chest like he was the one who caught them.

But I’m the one who beat those guys. Why are people with a bit of ink in their heads so obsessed with recognition?

“M-Master! Please spare us just this once! We’ll live righteously from now on!”

“Yeah, I don’t believe you.”

As we neared the Magistrate Office, the bandits began begging fervently for mercy, claiming they’d reform.

But their actions, full of malice and killing karma, proved otherwise.

People prove themselves not by their mouths, but by their accumulated actions.

Thududududud!

I swung the Dog-Beating Staff vigorously and knocked out all the bandits again.

Maybe I’d improved—there was a satisfying feedback from my fingers. The unconscious bandits piled atop the cart.

“Um, I’m not great with magistrate stuff… See you later, Mujin!”

No, I don’t plan on seeing you later.

I’m going to avoid you at all costs.

Still, I waved cheerfully toward Jo Harang as she strode away.

“But where did Ilhong go?”

He was chatting with me just a moment ago.

I looked around the bustling crowd for the handsome boy.

“Boss…!”

And there he was, far off, being dragged away by the youngest daughter of the Jo family.

Jo Yeongyeong was trying to persuade him with promises of good food and a nice place, while Ilhong mouthed “Help!” as if refusing to let go of this chance at luxury.

“Hmm, should I be saving him…?”

If it were me, I would’ve just pretended to go along and enjoyed the food and pleasures of Kaifeng.

I wasn’t sure whether I should help or not.

“Hey! Don’t just stand there and watch!”

Well, no matter how much gold you’re offered, it means nothing if the person’s not into it.

Reluctantly, I decided to step in.

Ilhong, who had been rescued(?) from the lovestruck Jo Yeongyeong.

“Thanks to you, I survived, Boss.”

She let out a sigh of relief as she said that.

“What for? Didn’t look like I needed to step in.”

To my question, Ilhong shook his sharp jaw.

“Jo Yeongyeong… her eyes were a bit dangerous.”

“Well, that’s because you’re so ridiculously good-looking.”

Isn’t Ilhong that beautiful boy who looks like a doll—exactly the type girls that age go crazy over?

If this were the modern day, he’d probably debut as an idol and have girls screaming ‘Kyaa!’

“Anyway, don’t come near me when I’m doing anything romantic.”

“…That’s kind of a hurtful thing to say.”

Ilhong pouted with a hurt expression at my ban.

“You’re practically a natural disaster, man.”

If anyone should be sulking, it’s me—for having a decent face but getting no attention.

“Besides, you can’t even do anything romantic, Boss.”

“What? Why not?”

“…It’s just… you know.”

With a meaningful expression, Ilhong mumbled something barely audible like “Because it’s me…”

I saved him, and now he’s jinxing my future?

Next time, I’ll just let Jo Yeongyeong drag him off.

“Who are those punks?”

While we were talking, the Magistrate Office of Kaifeng came into view.

As the cart loaded with thuggish-looking men rolled over the threshold under brute strength, the constables widened their eyes.

I explained that these were bandits who had been active near Kaifeng. Soon, a man named Magistrate Yang appeared and began inspecting the bandits’ faces.

“These bastards are the ones who caused a ruckus at Mount Danghwi?”

“Yes, their appearances match the descriptions.”

“Then why did you bring them all back alive? That’s just a hassle.”

He looked like he was about to say we should’ve just chopped off their heads and salted them. That would’ve been easier for everyone.

“See, Boss.”

Ilhong, who had voiced displeasure about capturing them alive alongside Jo Harang, gave me a look as if to say, “I told you so.”

This barbaric age—every little thing is about chopping heads.

“Well, it’s been a while since we’ve had a public execution to soothe the people’s hearts. Wouldn’t be a bad idea, Magistrate Yang.”

“Sigh, I suppose so.”

In this era, executing evildoers was a grand spectacle.

It might increase the workload, but the people’s support made it worth it. Magistrate Yang reluctantly nodded.

“Well then, it’s about time you handed over the reward.”

I rubbed my hands silently, and with a mutter of “Ah, right,” the magistrate signaled to the constables.

Soon after, thirteen silver coins were placed in my hand—exactly the number of bandits we’d brought.

“Eh, Constable sir. These were supposed to be from the Eighteen Mountain Strongholds of the Green Forest, and this is all we get?”

“…Eighteen Mountain Strongholds my foot. They were all impersonators. Their martial skills were around Third Rate, weren’t they?”

“That’s true…”

Damn it, so they weren’t the real toll-road bandits?

Now that I think about it, most of them were just third-rate scum, with maybe one or two at second-rate level.

“Tch, I was hoping to use the bounty to enjoy delicacies at a fancy inn.”

We needed to rent two rooms, cover three meals a day for several days—but with this money, it would be tight.

At best, we could afford some thin noodles, dumplings, and maybe a little sparrow dish like Hwawhajak.

As expected of a commercial city, room rates and prices were murder. I did have a dagger worth twenty silver coins in my pocket, but I hadn’t liquidated it yet.

“We can just book one room, Boss.”

“Hey now, what are you saying? Men and women must be kept separate.”

“Tch, you treat me like a man most of the time, and only pull this now...”

I could hear the rumble of my Confucian dragon stirring within me.

Ilhong grumbled a bit, seemingly displeased at my strict rejection.

“Then go catch another wanted criminal.”

“How would I know where they are? Even the Magistrate Office couldn’t find them and issued a wanted notice.”

She confidently thumped her chest.

“Who am I?”

“Hmm, a pretty boy who seduces women?”

“……”

It was just a joke, but her glare was sharp.

“The heir to the Hao Sect who knows everything except what she doesn’t?”

“Exactly.”

She clapped her hands as if I’d given the right answer.

“One of the Hao Sect’s primary businesses was tracking people. They provided information on whereabouts to bounty hunters and trackers, collecting fees.”

She explained how, as part of her successor training, she received related education, and due to her incredible memory and extensive reading of the records, she remembered the bandits’ hideouts, activities, and disguises.

“Ooh…”

What a find. That tiny head of hers was packed with money-making intelligence?

I grabbed her hand and ran straight to the Magistrate Office wall, plastered with wanted posters.

The rough hemp sheets fluttered in the wind, covered in thick black ink detailing each fugitive’s face, traits, and movements.

“But none of them are small-time crooks.”

As I read the crimes and charges one by one, something felt unusual.

“Right? If the Magistrate Office issues a bounty, they’re serious villains.”

Unlike the Wanderers' Guild, which matched minor requests with lower-grade wanderers for a fee—

The Magistrate Office only targeted criminals who seriously affected the lives of common folk.

Which meant going after them required risking your life.

“Especially this one—this Bloodsucker is, as the name suggests, a demon who drains human blood. Recently, he attacked someone important, and the bounty must have doubled.”

It was now at least fifty silver coins.

I tried to memorize the face, features, and movements from the wanted poster. Though unlike Ilhong, I’d likely forget them quickly.

“But why the hell would someone suck blood? Just kill, if you must.”

“Half for fun, half for training demonic arts. One time, he wiped out an entire village of hundreds.”

In the modern world, there are limits to what one madman can do.

But here, with martial arts, one person could take on hundreds or even thousands—so when a maniac emerged among the elites, the damage was unbelievable.

“Hmm? That face looks familiar.”

Among the posters, there was an old man with a long, sage-like beard.

“Boss, that’s a wanted poster issued by the Beggars’ Union headquarters.”

The appearance and features closely resembled someone I knew.

“Isn’t that… Hwang Geolgae?”

“Yeah, that’s Hwang Noya.”

Ilhong confirmed my uncertain guess with a firm tone.

Greasy-faced, imitating the look of a sage—definitely Hwang Geolgae.

“For useful intel, ten silver coins. For decisive information, two gold coins. And ten gold coins if you actually capture him…?”

Quite desperate, judging by the high rewards written on the poster.

“…Boss, you’re not seriously thinking of reporting him, are you?”

She looked at me with a slightly pale face as I made a pondering expression.

Come to think of it, the Beggars’ Union headquarters was here in Kaifeng.

The beggars must’ve been desperately searching for the Dragon Head Sect Leader who had suddenly vanished.

“For how many silver coins did Judas sell out Jesus?”

I rubbed my chin, trying to recall. Was it twenty? But this one offered gold—much better.

That old man, so irresponsible. With tens of thousands of disciples looking for him, he was off somewhere pretending to be a sage, drowned in booze.

“Maybe… this could be for the good of the Beggars’ Union.”

Didn’t he get drunk and provoke the emperor with a game of go, getting the beggars banned from the palace?

They even called him Blusterous Wind Daoist for the outrageous stuff he did while drunk.

Maybe it was finally time for him to stop causing trouble and return to his sect.

“Should I go take a look at the Beggars’ Union headquarters?”

Anyway, it’s one of those must-visit places if you’re in Kaifeng.

I rested the Dog-Beating Staff on my shoulder and considered it.

Throughout the Central Plains, Kaifeng was known as the ancient capital of countless beggars.

There, in a workspace called the Hall of Begging Righteousness, many of the Beggars’ Union’s high-ranking officials, including Elder Chilgyeol, had gathered.

The reason was simple—a letter stamped with the seal of the Dragon Head Sect Leader had arrived.

“Let us read the letter from the Dragon Head Sect Leader.”

Elder Chilgyeol Chwioksan’s voice echoed.

As he broke the seal, the surrounding area went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

“I’ve handed over the Dog-Beating Staff to some thunderstruck brat. I might drop by Kaifeng, so don’t be surprised.”

Chwioksan fell silent after reading that. Everyone waited for more, but his mouth remained shut.

Then someone cautiously asked the question on everyone’s mind.

“Is… is that all?”

With a bewildered expression, Chwioksan flipped the letter over.

“Seems so. There’s nothing else.”

“Huh…”

No description of the person, no details, no date of arrival—just one ridiculous letter.

If that wasn’t the Dragon Head Sect Leader’s style, then what was?

Everyone present sighed and shook their heads.