Book 19 Chapter 8

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- The Ultimate Symbol

"What do you think, Master?"

"Hmm."

Jang Woo-yang turned the clothes he received in his hands this way and that, examining them carefully. His eyes were very cautious, and his demeanor was very solemn. The white tiger pattern, conspicuously engraved on the front, seemed ready to roar at any moment.

"Good. Let's go with this. Is the marking still incomplete?"

"Yes. Only the messenger's uniform has been completed, so I brought it first."

"How is the promotion going?"

"I've already taken care of it."

"Good, good! Now is the time for our Jungyang Courier Service to soar beyond Jungwon Courier Service and become the number one courier service in the world!"

Jang Woo-yang exclaimed with great satisfaction.

"We have invested a considerable amount for this right! Now is the time to reap more than that!"

"Of course!"

He shuddered, recalling the sweat-inducing moment of that transaction. Failure was absolutely out of the question. The odds were sufficient. The moment he sat face-to-face with the old master a few days ago flashed back with an inexplicable fiery passion. As if by magic, the burning ambition, passion, and dreams he felt then ignited once more in his heart like flames.

* * *

"What do you think, Old Master?"

Jang Woo-yang swallowed hard and asked cautiously. His life hung on this one sentence. How could he not be careful?

"Um… so you want to make our 'Hayangi' the face of Jungwon Courier Service?"

"Th-that's right. I want to incorporate the dignified pattern of Hayan Nae-gwang Baekmuhu, the guardian deity of Mount Emei and the foremost of white tigers, on all our markings and uniforms…"

"You want to enshrine it as the guardian deity of Jungwon Courier Service?"

It was the fifth time he had repeated the words, so the old master remembered them, unless he had dementia.

"Yes. Of course, I intend to take corresponding measures."

What Jungwon Courier Service needed most desperately right now was a special 'symbol.' Although his own courier service was steadily expanding its influence and recording consistent profits, it was a new establishment with a short history. In contrast, Jungwon Courier Service, which had held the number one position in the industry for a century, had a distant history of over 150 years. A long history was directly linked to credibility, so 150 years had become a symbol of Jungwon Courier Service's creditworthiness.

For his Jungwon Courier Service, to which he had dedicated his life, to become the number one courier service in the world, it desperately needed the ultimate symbol that could threaten the long-standing tradition and reputation of Jungwon Courier Service, recognized as the best in the martial arts world. Without a considerably powerful weapon, it was almost impossible to break through the deep shadow of Jungwon Courier Service, which was imprinted in people's minds as a shield of long history.

"How much do you intend to pay for the usage rights?"

The old master got to the point in a quiet voice. To Jang Woo-yang, it was like a surprise attack from a dark alley at night.

"What? Usage rights?"

"Of course. If you want to use Hayangi's likeness, you must pay the proper price, don't you? You weren't expecting it for free, were you? That would be against the code of conduct and extremely shameless."

"Of-of course I'll pay! But who should I pay the usage rights to? Do I have to offer tribute or something?"

"You don't need to go far. No need for complicated procedures like tribute. Look nearby, look nearby. It's so close you could hit it with a stone. Isn't that kind? Ho ho ho ho!"

The old master said, stroking his spotless white beard.

"Th-then, to you, Old Master?"

The old master nodded without hesitation.

"Of course. I am his authorized representative. Of course, I won't stop you if you are willing to negotiate through another intermediary. That's for you to decide. But don't blame me if one of that intermediary's limbs or head disappears during negotiations. I can't be responsible for that."

This sounded more terrifying than being told to deal only with him.

"Then what happens if it's used without permission?"

Jang Woo-yang asked cautiously.

"No, are you announcing your intention to commit a crime now?"

Seeing the old master's eyes widen, Jang Woo-yang quickly waved his hands, fearing he might be misunderstood, and completely denied his intention to commit a crime.

"Oh, no. How could that be? It was just simple curiosity. You know how it is? That futile curiosity everyone has, knowing it's useless but still asking."

"Hmm, if such a thing happens, I have no intention of doing anything. There's no need for me to do anything. Bu-ut. If one day your courier service or your shipments suffer from tiger troubles, that's not something I can help with. If you have the courage to take such a risk, that's truly brave. Yes, it's indeed brave."

It meant that if recklessness could be classified as courage, then so be it.

"I-I see. It seems I don't have the desire to be brave."

Cold sweat trickled down Jang Woo-yang's back as he stammered his reply. In fact, he had been too soft to think that it would be possible with just a simple request for permission. He had made a fatal mistake of momentarily forgetting who this old man was.

"To get the best, you must pay the price. Are you prepared for that?"

Gulp!

He naturally swallowed dryly.

After giving him a moment to think, the old master declared,

"Well then, shall we begin negotiations?"

Jang Woo-yang tensed his whole body and entered the transaction of a lifetime. He couldn't be satisfied with just being the best in Sichuan; there could be no mistakes. In fact, the negotiation was already over. The last words were not to announce the beginning of the negotiation, but to announce its end. Pay the highest price. Show your sincerity. Jang Woo-yang was willing to do so.

"Ah, and there are additional requests from 'Hayangi'."

What did this mean now?

"What requests are you referring to?"

"It is to supply a variety of fresh food once a month along with five dou of 'Sohongju' from Sohongru."

"Do white tigers drink alcohol?"

Jang Woo-yang asked back, bewildered.

"Of course. Despite appearances, that fellow has quite a picky palate and doesn't drink just any alcohol. Weren't you curious why the Sohongru wine cellar, located at the foot of Mount Emei, is broken into every few months?"

Of course, he was curious. It was a famous story in the vicinity.

"Th-surely, the 'Visitor of the New Moon'…"

"Precisely that 'surely'!"

The mysterious visitor who always appeared on pitch-black nights, when the moon hid behind the shadow of darkness, broke into the Sohongru wine cellar and disappeared.

Each time, exactly five dou of the finest wine disappeared, causing the owner a lot of trouble. But no matter how much they strengthened their security, they were always subjected to the same fate, and now they had given up and were just letting it happen. There were various theories about this elusive culprit, but they never strayed from the realm of humans. But who would have thought it was the work of this king of the mountains?

"Right, Hayangi?"

At the call, golden eyes flashed in the darkness, and a form emerged. Meeting those two sun-like eyes, his legs already felt weak.

*Grrrr!*

Baekmuhu growled.

"What do you say, Hayangi? Are you satisfied with these conditions?"

*Grrr!*

Baekmuhu shook his head. It was a clear sign of refusal.

*Grrrrrrr!*

"Um… What? You want it like that?"

The master nodded in response to Hayangi's growls.

'Are they actually having a conversation?'

Does it really understand? Or is it just imitating? But he lacked the courage to ask.

"Um… what did it say?"

"It says it's not enough alcohol. It needs at least ten dou."

"Th-that's too much! Even without that, the alcohol there is high-quality and expensive… Ten dou is…"

"Are you dissatisfied?"

"C-can't it be seven dou?"

*Grrr!*

Baekmuhu turned its head sharply to the side as if it didn't need to ask. Given its size, it was a rather intimidating movement.

Jang Woo-yang suppressed the urge to draw his sword. In any case, he felt he would be torn to shreds even if he drew it. It would be far more advantageous to hone his patience.

"Then, there's nothing we can do. We have no choice but to give up."

The old master added one more sentence.

"Unfortunately, negotiations have broken down."

"W-wait a moment!"

Startled, Jang Woo-yang jumped up and pleaded.

"Aren't differences in opinion something that can be reconciled? Please wait a little longer."

The old master, who was about to leave without regret, reluctantly sat back down. However, Jang Woo-yang remained lost in thought, unable to speak.

"…"

He still hadn't made a decision. His hesitation was evident. The old master said,

"I'll give you one piece of advice. People usually think the world is ranked in order. Like first, second, third, and so on. But that's a big mistake."

The old master held up two fingers.

"Do you understand? In this world, there are only two groups. The best, and not the best."

That statement pierced his heart like a sharp spear.

That's right. No one pays attention to the second or third best courier services in the world. The sign of being the best in Sichuan has a much higher brand value than an ambiguous sign of being the second best in the world. For this reason, Jungyang Courier Service has also been emphasizing this point of being 'the best in Sichuan' in its business operations recently.

"Which group do you want to belong to?"

He was once again at a crucial crossroads. However, the decision had already been made long ago. All that remained was to put it into practice.

Finally, Jang Woo-yang made up his mind.

It was well worth the challenge, and he could reap more benefits than he invested. Being the best and being second best was as different as heaven and earth, even in terms of profit acquisition. He had learned this through experience.

Only those who are content with the status quo fear adventure. He wanted to move forward. He wanted to obtain the best, even if it meant taking risks. The scales were tipping in the other direction.

For someone like him, a mere courier, forging a connection with a martial arts eccentric like the old master was not an easy relationship. Demanding a certain share of the total income meant, conversely, becoming a business partner. The more profit he made, the more profit the other party received, so forming a community of interest was a natural progression.

If he were to be in a partnership with such an eccentric, it would be advantageous for his future business. Even if he lost a little, leaving a good impression would be much more beneficial. Reputation was very important in this industry. Furthermore, if he lost credibility, he would lose everything.

"Good! I agree! I accept everything!"

The old master smiled with apparent satisfaction and nodded.

"Congratulations on acquiring the ultimate symbol."

"Thank you."