The Eternal Flower Beggar King — Chapter 95: 24 Hour Business

 The Eternal Flower Beggar King — Chapter 95: 24 Hour Business

The dawn air was cold.

Jinhwa rose from the back room, washed his face, ate a quick bite, and stepped out in front of the shop. He looked at the main road, where darkness had not yet fully lifted. Stars lingered faintly. The eastern sky was brightening to a pale blue. Far off, a rooster crowed.

Today was the first day.

Even for Jinhwa — who had been through everything from the clothing shop to Pungnyu-gak — the first day always brought excitement and nerves. He stood before the shop door and drew a deep breath. His heart beat a little faster, but he was not anxious. He was tense, but not afraid. Rather, something like quiet conviction had settled deep in his chest. He reached for the handle. He pulled slowly. Creeeak — the door opened with a groan.

Ji-ae-su General Store opened its doors for the first time.

Jinhwa walked inside and went behind the counter. He pulled out the chair and sat. He looked toward the entrance and waited for the sun to rise. Faint light seeped through the windows and began to illuminate the shop little by little. The goods on the display shelves revealed their outlines one by one. Straw sandals and rope on the double-sided stand cast shadows in the morning light.

Stillness.

No customers yet. From the main road came the occasional sound of hoofbeats. Jinhwa sat quietly behind the counter, listening. In the old days at the Hwasan Sect, the dawn training bell would have rung. At the clothing shop, he would have been sorting fabrics since before sunrise. In the Pungnyu-gak days, he would have been passed out drunk at this hour. But now was different. This quiet dawn, this small shop, this seat behind the counter — this was Jinhwa's new beginning.

The sun rose.

Red sunlight poured through the entrance and warmed the interior. Jinhwa squinted into the light. It stretched long across the spotless floor. The brush and ink on the counter caught the light and gleamed. The wound-salve bottles on the display shelf glowed softly.

"It begins."

He murmured.

"Now I wait for customers."

The morning deepened, but no customers came.

Jinhwa sat at the counter and opened the ledger. He looked at the blank first page. He picked up the brush and wrote today's date. Twenty-eight years old, a day near the end of spring, Ji-ae-su General Store — opening day. The ink seeped slowly into the paper. Jinhwa stared at the characters for a long while, then set the brush down.

Footsteps.

Jinhwa raised his head and looked toward the entrance. A middle-aged man in traveler's clothes stood at the door, peering inside. He hesitated a moment, then stepped in. Jinhwa rose and bowed politely.

"Welcome."

The traveler nodded and looked around the shop.

"Do you have water flasks?"

"Yes."

Jinhwa walked to the double-sided stand and picked one up. A small flask made of pine. The right size. A leather strap attached for carrying over the shoulder. He brought it to the counter and set it down carefully. The traveler turned it in his hands, checked it over, and nodded.

"How much?"

"Twenty jeon."

The traveler drew silver from inside his coat. Jinhwa took it, felt its weight, pulled change from the drawer, and handed it over. The traveler took the flask and walked out. The door closed. Footsteps faded. Jinhwa looked down at the coin on the counter.

His first sale.

Twenty jeon. A small amount, but it meant everything. Jinhwa placed the coin carefully in the drawer. He opened the ledger and recorded the first transaction. One water flask — twenty jeon. The brush tip flowed across the paper. He waited for the ink to dry. A small smile crossed his face.

"A customer came…"

He murmured.

"It's started."

Morning passed and noon arrived, but no more customers came.

Jinhwa tidied the shop. He checked the goods on the display shelves once more. He wiped them with a cloth to keep dust from settling. He aligned the wound-salve bottles neatly. He straightened the basket of dried rations. He checked the caps on the lamp-oil bottles. Everything was in its place. Ready to receive customers at any moment. Jinhwa returned to the counter and sat.

The sun was hot.

Through the window the main road was visible. A merchant cart passed. Two murim fighters rode by on horseback. No one entered the shop. Jinhwa watched and tried not to grow anxious. He had expected few customers during the day. Night would be different. For now, he simply had to wait.

As the afternoon wore on, footsteps sounded.

Jinhwa looked up. A middle-aged man in merchant's clothes entered. He squinted and surveyed the shop, then walked toward the double-sided stand. He examined the rope and straw sandals. He felt them with his hands, checking quality. Jinhwa rose from the counter and approached.

"What are you looking for?"

"I'd like to see the rope and sandals."

"Of course."

Jinhwa took down a coil of rope and showed it. The merchant took it, turned it this way and that, then picked up a pair of sandals. He inspected them at length before speaking.

"Give me a discount on these."

Jinhwa regarded the merchant for a moment.

"We have fixed prices."

"Come now, give me a deal. These are more expensive than other places."

Jinhwa felt a laugh rise inside, but kept his face serious.

"We're open 24 hours, so prices are slightly higher."

The merchant narrowed his eyes.

"I don't know anything about that. Just give me a discount."

"We stay open through the night — that's why it costs a bit more than elsewhere."

"I don't know anything about that."

Jinhwa paused, then tried again.

"We're open at dawn too, so the lamp oil alone costs —"

"I don't know anything about that."

Jinhwa looked at the merchant's face. The merchant looked back. Silence passed between them. Jinhwa nodded slowly.

"Then let's do this."

"Oh?"

"Since you don't know anything about that, I'll go ahead and not know anything about you either."

The merchant's brow furrowed.

"What do you —"

"I don't know your face. I don't know your name. I don't know where you came from. So there can be no credit, and naturally no discount. No returns either. And if the goods turn out defective, well — you wouldn't be able to come find me, would you?"

Jinhwa spoke evenly as he took the rope back.

"I keep 24 hours business and you don't know about that. You come to my shop and I don't know about you. Isn't that fair?"

The merchant stood blank-faced for a moment, then burst into a dry laugh.

"Ha… you've got a stubborn streak, I'll give you that."

"Trade should be fair."

"Fine, fine. I'll just buy them."

The merchant waved his hands and pulled out his silver. Jinhwa handed over the rope and sandals with courtesy. He received the payment and placed it in the drawer. The merchant grumbled on his way out, but the trace of a grin was on his face. The door closed. Jinhwa sat behind the counter and let out a small sigh.

"Asking for a discount…"

He murmured.

"Doesn't know anything about that…"

A wry smile, but his mood was not bad. A customer had come. Goods had been sold. That was enough.

The sun began to tilt.

Jinhwa went to the back room and ate a quick meal. He chewed jerky and looked out the window. The sunset was staining the sky red. Night would come soon. He finished eating, went back to the shop floor, took down the large lantern hanging beside the entrance, and struck a flint to light the wick.

The lantern came alive.

Warm light spread outward. Jinhwa hung the lantern back in place, then stepped outside to check. It was clearly visible from the main road. The only light burning in the darkness. It would catch the eye of anyone passing. Those in urgent need would come.

Jinhwa went back inside and lit the interior lanterns one by one. Beside the counter. Before the display shelves. Near the double-sided stand. The entire shop filled with warm light. From outside it would look like a glowing beacon. Jinhwa sat behind the counter and waited for the night.

Darkness fell.

The people on the main road thinned. Inn lights began flickering on, one by one. Jinhwa sat still, watching through the window. The night wind blew and swayed the lantern flame. Shadows rippled across the walls. A quiet night.

Footsteps.

Jinhwa did not look up. Probably just someone passing. They would not come inside. But — the footsteps stopped. Jinhwa raised his head slowly and looked toward the entrance.

A middle-aged man stood swaying before the door.

Drunk. His face was flushed. A grin hung at the corner of his mouth as he stared at the lantern. Jinhwa felt a twinge of foreboding but rose from his seat. He was about to bow politely when the drunk spoke first.

"Where are the ladies~?"

Jinhwa froze.

"…Pardon?"

"Isn't this a pleasure house? With lanterns this bright…"

The drunk lurched forward, trying to enter. Jinhwa hurried out from behind the counter and blocked his path. He raised a hand in polite restraint and explained as gently as he could.

"This is a general store."

"A general store? The kind of general store where they've got every woman in the world?"

The drunk squinted and peered around the shop. Display shelves. Double-sided stand. Counter. Far too modest for a pleasure house. Not a single lady in sight. Only wound salve, rope, and straw sandals.

"Ah…"

The drunk grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry about that…"

"No harm done. If you've been drinking, the inn would be —"

"Right, right. Sorry."

The drunk bowed his head and stumbled off. Footsteps faded. Jinhwa stood in the doorway, watching the man's retreating figure. A small sigh escaped.

"Maybe the lantern's too bright…"

He murmured.

But the lantern could not be put out. It was the only way to signal that the shop was open at night. Passersby needed to see it. A drunk mistaking it for a pleasure house was a cost he would have to bear.

Jinhwa returned to the counter and sat.

And waited again.

Perhaps an hour had passed.

Urgent footsteps.

Jinhwa looked up. Two murim fighters were running toward the shop. One clutched his shoulder. The other stopped in front of the door and peered inside. Jinhwa rose, walked to the entrance, and opened the door wide.

"Welcome."

"Yours is the only shop open right now!"

The fighter rushed inside. The other followed. Both were panting. Urgency was written across their faces. Jinhwa regarded them calmly.

"What do you need?"

"Wound salve! Quickly!"

Jinhwa nodded and walked to the display shelf. He picked up a bottle of wound salve, brought it to the counter, and set it down carefully. The fighter fumbled out his silver.

"Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

The two left in a hurry, wound salve in hand. Jinhwa watched them go and murmured softly.

"Night business was the right call."

His heart beat a little faster. During the day, customers had been scarce. At night, everything was different. People in need came. The strategy of all-hours business was proving itself.

Night deepened.

The sound of cart wheels. Jinhwa looked out the window. Three large carts were approaching slowly. A merchant caravan. Traveling by night. They had spotted the lantern and stopped. The caravan leader — a middle-aged man — climbed down from a cart and walked toward the shop.

"Is the shopkeeper in?"

"Yes."

Jinhwa rose and bowed.

"Welcome."

The caravan leader stepped inside and looked around.

"I saw the light from the road. You stay open at night?"

"Yes. 24 hours business."

A look of satisfaction crossed the leader's face.

"That's a fine idea. I need lamp oil and rations."

"How much?"

"Five bottles of lamp oil. Rations — five geun of jerky and twenty hardtack."

Jinhwa nodded and began preparing the order. He took lamp-oil bottles from the shelf one by one and set them on the counter. He weighed the jerky on the scale and measured out five geun. He counted twenty hardtack. The leader nodded with satisfaction and produced his silver. Jinhwa wrapped the goods in cloth and handed them over. The leader called his men, who carried everything to the carts.

"I'll be stopping by often."

The leader said.

"A shop like this open at night — it's a real help when we travel after dark."

"Thank you."

"Night business. A fine idea."

The caravan departed. Jinhwa sat at the counter and counted the silver. A sizable transaction. Far more than the daytime sales. A quiet pride rose in his chest.

"This is it…"

He murmured.

"This approach is right."

As the hour of the Rat drew near, urgent footsteps sounded again.

Jinhwa looked up. A young murim fighter was staggering toward the shop. One hand clutched his shoulder. Blood seeped between his fingers. Jinhwa sprang to his feet and opened the door. The fighter stumbled inside, braced himself against the counter, and gasped for breath.

"Wound salve…"

He managed.

"Quickly… please…"

Jinhwa looked at the shoulder. The clothing was torn. Beneath it, a deep sword wound was visible. Blood continued to flow. Wound salve alone would not be enough. The bleeding had to be stopped first. The wound needed cleaning. Without proper treatment, infection could set in.

Jinhwa hesitated for a moment, then made his decision.

"Sit here."

He pointed to the chair beside the counter. The fighter sank into it. Jinhwa ran to the back room and returned with clean cloth and water, along with wound salve and bandages.

"Remove your shirt."

The fighter struggled out of his upper garment. The sword wound was now fully visible. Blood ran from it. Jinhwa wet the cloth and began cleaning the wound carefully.

The Hwasan Sect days came back to him.

He had worked as an assistant at the sect's infirmary. He had learned from Elder Yakwang. He had read the medical texts. He had thought he would never use any of it again. But now, in this moment, those skills were needed.

Jinhwa cleaned the wound thoroughly with the cloth. To slow the bleeding, he pressed the pressure points around the wound. He waited. When the flow eased, he took out the wound salve. He uncapped the bottle and applied it to the wound in small amounts. The fighter clenched his teeth and held back a groan. Jinhwa spread the salve as gently as he could.

"Bear with it a little longer."

When the salve was applied, he took out the bandages. He began wrapping the shoulder — not too loose, not too tight — with steady, even pressure. He tied a knot at the end to hold it in place. The fighter moved his shoulder, testing it, and nodded.

"Thank you…"

"It's nothing."

"Are you… a physician?"

Jinhwa shook his head.

"No. I learned a little, a long time ago."

"Still… your hands are skilled."

The fighter reached inside his coat and pulled out silver. Far more than the cost of the salve and bandages. Jinhwa waved it away, but the fighter insisted. In the end, he had no choice but to accept.

"Truly — thank you. You saved my life."

The fighter rose, bowed deeply, and left. Jinhwa stood in the doorway watching him go. He looked down at his own hands. A quiet murmur.

"What I learned at the Hwasan Sect… I never thought it would be of use here."

A wistful smile — but it did not feel bad. A skill he had thought worthless had helped someone. The past was not entirely without meaning. A small consolation.

The night continued.

Customers came steadily. Jinhwa greeted them from behind the counter. He sold goods and received silver. A passing murim fighter bought flint stones. A caravan preparing to leave at dawn bought water flasks. A traveler in a hurry bought straw sandals. Daytime had been quiet, but the night was different. Many came after seeing the lantern. Jinhwa's strategy was proving exactly right.

When the hour of the Tiger arrived, exhaustion hit.

Jinhwa sat at the counter and looked out the window. The sky was beginning to lighten. Stars were fading. Dawn was approaching. A yawn came, but he held it back. He rubbed his eyes and steadied himself. The shop was still open.

The last customer came.

A caravan departing at dawn. They bought dried rations. Jinhwa saw them off with courtesy. The caravan left. The main road fell silent. Jinhwa closed the door and went inside.

The first day was over.

Jinhwa sat at the counter and opened the ledger. He tallied the day's sales. He compared daytime and nighttime revenue. Night sales were more than triple the day's. Far better than he had expected. The approach was right. Jinhwa closed the ledger and allowed himself a small smile.

"It worked…"

He murmured.

"Now… just a little sleep…"

He went to the back room and lay down on the cot. His whole body was heavy. His eyelids fell shut. Sleep was pouring in. But before it took him, Jinhwa looked out the window. The sun was rising. A new morning was beginning. Customers would come again today.

"Today too…"

He murmured.

"Keep going…"

He fell asleep.

Days passed.

Jinhwa's routine took shape. He rose at the fourth hour before dawn, washed, ate a quick bite, and opened the shop. He ran daytime business from morning through afternoon. Customers were few, but he did not mind. He spent the time tidying the shop. When the sun set, he lit the lanterns.

Night business began.

Once the lanterns were lit, customers started arriving. Murim fighters, caravans, travelers — they found the shop. Jinhwa sat behind the counter through the night and greeted them all. He was tired, but he was growing used to it. Each time a customer came, he rose and handed over the goods. At dawn he did the final tally.

When the sun rose, he closed the door and went to the back room. He slept two or three hours. He rose and started the day again. The cycle repeated.

Regulars began to appear.

Caravans that traveled at night stopped by on a regular basis. "Time to swing by Ji-ae-su," they would say with a grin. Jinhwa welcomed them warmly. Word spread among murim circles too. "There's a shop in Sarojin that stays open at night," people said. Those who needed something urgently at dawn came seeking it out.

Sales stabilized.

Daytime revenue was slim, but night sales more than compensated. Overall, the income was sufficient. Jinhwa felt satisfied as he balanced the ledger. Inventory was moving. He placed reorders with the wholesaler. Small, but steadily turning.

Jinhwa was tired, but he was happy.

Working day and night was grueling, but it had purpose. Each time a customer said "Thank you" on the way out, he felt a quiet pride. This small shop was finding its footing, little by little. It was not splendid like Pungnyu-gak. It did not carry the fame of Geumsoo Eulsaeng. It was simply a small general store that opened its doors without fanfare. And that was enough.

Several days later, at night, Jinhwa sat behind the counter balancing the ledger.

The lantern flame flickered. Shadows wavered on the walls. Through the window the main road was visible. A quiet night — but Jinhwa knew. Customers would come soon. They would see the lantern and find their way. They would buy what they needed in a hurry.

From far away, footsteps.

Jinhwa raised his head and looked through the window. In the darkness, silhouettes were approaching. They had spotted the lantern light and were quickening their pace. They were walking toward the shop.

Jinhwa closed the ledger and rose from his seat.

He stood behind the counter. He looked toward the entrance. A small smile.

"Customers are coming."

That night.

At the deepest hour, when the world lay sleeping, the aged Grand Astrologer of the Imperial Observatory — the Heumcheon-gam — stood alone in the far north of the empire, gazing up at the sky. A sigh left his lips.

Inside the bowl of the Big Dipper. In a place that should have remained empty for a thousand years — a single red star, tinged with the color of blood, was pulsing like a heartbeat.

"The Flame Star…"

His wrinkled hands gripped the railing tight.

"Everyone believed the fire had burned to ash. But a spark hidden in the cinders has begun to breathe again."

The star of the Fire King — recorded in the ancient texts. The one that blooms latest and burns the world hottest. Faintly, yet unmistakably, it was emitting light.

"The Fire King's… small spark is trying to reignite."

The old man's question scattered on the night wind. But the single red point hammered into the sky did not vanish. It gazed down at the earth — cold and unblinking.

[End of Chapter 95]