Chapter 75: Everything Has a Price (2)
Chapter 74 – Everything Has a Price (2)
Having finished his meal, Gold King, who was about to stand up, rummaged through his bosom and pulled out a silk pouch slightly larger than his palm.
Judging by how exceptionally fine the silk was, it seemed to contain something quite precious.
It also looked heavy to the eye.
Of course, everything Gold King used was noble, but did the silk pouch itself seem particularly crafted with care?
Like gift wrapping.
Jin So-hong opened her eyes wide and asked,
“What is that?”
Gold King puffed out his chest with a confident expression.
“It is a gift for you. You will be very happy this time.”
“You’re not giving me something strange again, are you?”
“Something strange… Have the gifts this father of yours gave you been that bad?”
“You’re probably the only father who would gift his daughter a snake’s gallbladder.”
“Haha, that was not just any snake’s gallbladder. It was a very precious thing called White Dragon Gallbladder. Others cannot even get it because it is so rare…”
“Yes, yes. It is rare, but it is certainly not a gift that makes one happy to receive. It does not even increase internal energy…”
“That is true, but if you steep the White Dragon Gallbladder in alcohol, its value becomes immense…”
“Father.”
“Ahem, ahem. I am sorry. This father of yours got excited for a moment.”
Gold King coughed awkwardly and held out the silk pouch again.
“But you will really love this one.”
“The wrapping is pretty.”
“Isn’t it?”
Hearing his daughter’s praise after a long time, Gold King’s expression brightened.
While Gold King watched his daughter with a fluttering heart, Jin So-hong untied the silk pouch and pulled out its contents.
It was a yellow lump of gold, carved into the shape of a bear.
Gold King asked with a broad grin,
“How is it? It is the golden bear you used to like.”
“Father… I appreciate the sentiment… but if you give me something like this, keeping it is…”
When her reaction was unexpectedly lukewarm, Gold King’s expression immediately became sullen.
“Is it not this one either?”
“I am sorry, but I am no longer a child, Father.”
“To this father, you will always look like a child.”
“I will accept your feelings with gratitude. Instead, I like this silk pouch, so I will keep it.”
“Alright. It is a pity, but it is still a half success.”
“Shall we head out?”
“Let us do that.”
As Gold King and Jin So-hong stood up to leave, a heavy voice caught their footsteps.
“Hold on. You need to pay.”
Turning toward the somewhat threatening voice, Gold King saw the Ghost King walking over with wide, glaring eyes.
‘Are this father and daughter trying to dine and dash as a pair?’
At that sight, Gold King smiled gently and said,
“Ah, my daughter is a cadet of the Dragon Heaven Academy.”
“So?”
“Pardon? I heard that Wuhan is currently holding an event providing free meals to the cadets of the Dragon Heaven Academy…”
The Ghost King cracked his neck and said,
“Why would they do such a thing? Has everyone gone mad?”
“Pardon…?”
“Well, it does not matter anyway. We learned that we must have the courage to say ‘no’ when others say ‘yes.’ Above all, if you ate, should you not naturally pay for the meal?”
“Ah… That is true.”
“Look here, Father over there. You seem to be ignorant of the ways of the world and do not know well, so I will give you my sincere advice. Do not take it the wrong way.”
“Please speak.”
“There is no free lunch in this world. Everything has a price. They are offering free meals to Dragon Heaven Academy cadets in Wuhan right now? Do you think that is just free? In the end, that is also a marketing tactic with an underlying motive. What is it that they are aiming for? That is… well… it is a complex issue, so you wouldn’t understand even if I told you. Let’s skip that. Anyway, if you get greedy for free things, you will end up paying a bigger price later. We do business honestly. Although the food is a bit expensive, we put that much care into it. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“Yes, I am listening.”
“Ahem! Anyway, for that reason, we do not provide any free food at all. Nor will we in the future. Our pride is at stake here. I believe that cooking can also be a luxury masterwork. A luxury masterwork cannot be free. That would be no different from devaluing the art I created.”
“Hmm.”
“The value of my art is not that trivial, you see? Do you understand? I will not stop until the moment my dishes themselves become luxury masterworks. I will stay true to my given mission, and I will cook while preserving my self-esteem until my skills become art, and that art becomes a supreme value. And so, I will stand tall so that our eatery can proudly become a proper noun.”
“…”
While Gold King and Jin So-hong watched blankly, the Ghost King’s subordinates flushed red and whispered, wondering what kind of nonsense he was spouting.
The Ghost King coughed and wrapped it up.
“In any case, that is my attitude toward the world.”
As he finished his words, the Ghost Servers quickly pretended to be busy and scattered.
Why was the embarrassment ours to bear?
However, an unexpected reaction came.
Clap… clap… clap…!
Gold King actually clapped his hands, showing a face of sincere admiration.
The Ghost King was also bewildered and looked at Gold King.
‘Huh? Did he understand? Even I don’t know what I said…’
Gold King could not hide his admiration, his eyes sparkling.
“Those are truly wonderful words. They say the Jianghu is full of seniors in life. I have met someone here from whom I can learn. Thanks to you, I have gained a deep realization.”
“Uh… well… if it helped, then I am glad…”
“Indeed, going against the trend requires a lot of courage and is nothing short of an adventure. However, I am sure that self-esteem will definitely grow this small eatery into something big.”
“Uh… well… thanks, but…”
“Truly, I have gained an unexpectedly precious realization. I do not know how to thank you. Thanks to you, I feel as if I have gained inspiration for the business I am currently pursuing. I was feeling uniquely lost before, but now my chest feels completely clear. Thank you sincerely.”
“Hmm… if so, then that is good… but as for the payment…?”
“Ah, because I separated from my attendants to spend some quiet time with my daughter, I did not prepare any money. So…”
“Huh? What? Are you saying you’re going to dine and dash after all, or what?”
“That is absolutely not my intention. How could I do such a rude thing to the benefactor who gave me deep inspiration? I am sorry, but this is all I have right now, if that is alright with you…”
At that moment, not only the Ghost King but also the Ghost Servers standing far away opened their eyes wide as if they would tear, looking at Gold King’s hand.
‘Th-That is…!’
A bright yellow lump of gold!
But wait… is this shape a bear…?
‘No, what kind of crazy bastard played this kind of trick with gold? It is clearly real gold… Wait! Could this be an artwork made of gold? Like the Five-Colored Wind Horse Statue?’
Having thought this far, the Ghost King coughed to avoid looking ignorant and asked with a serious expression,
“What is this artwork?”
“Ah… to call it an artwork, it is just a bear-shaped lump of gold.”
“No way! This is definitely an artwork. You just do not know it.”
“Thank you for thinking of it that way. Then, would this be acceptable?”
At that, the Ghost King raised his eyebrows high and shouted,
“No, seriously, is this guy playing games with me? If you suddenly present something like this, how am I supposed to give you change? It’s not like business is booming…”
“Ah, of course, no change is needed.”
“Of course no change is nee… Huh? Cough! Cough!”
The Ghost King opened his eyes wide again and looked at Gold King.
The Ghost Servers also doubted their ears and gathered their gazes.
Gold King smiled and said,
“I admire you once again. That belief to only accept the price of the meal. However, this is a token of gratitude for the benefactor who gave me inspiration. Please do not decline and accept it.”
The Ghost King blinked.
What was going on?
“A-Are you really giving this to me?”
“Of course. Although it is insignificant as a price for the realization I gained…”
“What do you mean! Did you all hear that? The noble guest here says he will pay this Golden Divine Bear Bodhisattva as the price for the meal!”
“Ah… that is not such a grand thing, just gold shaped like a bear…”
“No.”
The Ghost King shook his head with a very serious attitude.
“There is no way such an incredible thing is just a bear-shaped lump of gold. This is definitely the Golden Divine Bear Bodhisattva.”
From the Ghost King’s glaring eyes, a pressure that felt like it had to be so was felt.
Gold King was quietly filled with admiration even at that.
‘Ah, to increase value by oneself…’
‘I still have a long way to go.’
“Those are excellent words. I learn a lot.”
“Forgive me for acting rudely for a moment, failing to recognize a noble person!”
As the Ghost King spoke while cupping his fists, Gold King waved his hands.
“Not at all. Rather, I should be the one to thank you.”
“What is your esteemed name, benefactor?”
“Haha, I am merely an nameless villager.”
“Well, as the villager also knows, there are no take-backs.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes… Haha.”
“Then please go safely. Now, go quickly. Go and get some good rest.”
In that way, the Ghost King practically shoved Gold King and Jin So-hong out.
Gold King expressed his gratitude repeatedly and set off.
Once the two had left, the Ghost King broke into a broad grin and turned around.
“Bwahahaha! Did you all see that?”
“You are amazing, Chief!”
“What on earth did you advise him to receive such a lump of gold…”
“Tsk! It is the Golden Divine Bear Bodhisattva.”
“Ah, yes. What advice did you give to receive the Golden Divine Bear Bodhisattva?”
“That is, well…”
As the Ghost King stammered, another subordinate next to him spoke up.
“Didn’t our young master say before? A gentleman finds philosophy even in absolute nonsense. That gentleman must have found some sort of philosophy in Chief’s nonsense…”
Smack!
The Ghost King smacked the back of the subordinate’s head and growled,
“Anyway, this bastard takes after me and just begs for a beating.”
Meanwhile, Gold King, who had caused this commotion, walked along the pleasant night path with his daughter for the first time in a while.
Jin So-hong knitted her brows slightly and asked,
“But isn’t the price too high?”
“No. The inspiration this father obtained from his words is not worth a mere few gold bars. To make good use of that value, a proper price must be paid. Otherwise, it might bring bad luck.”
“If you obtained such a great inspiration, shouldn’t the price have been even higher?”
“Haha. But did it not seem like he himself did not even know what he was saying?”
“True…”
“So, this was a transaction that fully satisfied both sides.”
“Indeed.”
Jin So-hong replied with a bright smile.
The sudden memory of the bizarre reactions of the Ghost King and the Ghost Servers made her laugh.
It was a pleasant night.
She had her discernment recognized by the father she met after a long time, and her father had obtained a precious inspiration that was hard to measure in money.
A night where she was full and filled with expectations for the future.
‘I wish every day could be like today.’
A cool breeze brushed against her cheek pleasantly and passed.
And that breeze gently carried a fallen leaf, swept through the alleyway once, and then soared up along the wall.
When the fallen leaf finally flew onto the roof,
Pasusususu…
Like a lie, the leaf crumbled and scattered into powder.
And in that place where there was nothing, a figure draped in a black cloak appeared like a mirage.
An energy like a haze slowly rose from his entire body.
Wearing the cloak to cover even his head, he hid his face with a mask, leaving only his two eyes to gleam sharply.
The direction the man’s gaze was fixed was Gold King and Jin So-hong walking in the distance.
A moment later.
Seureureureu…!
The man draped in the cloak disappeared again without a trace.