LD Vol.3 Chapter 9

As Bi Ryu-yeon victoriously concluded a fierce price negotiation and walked out with Woo-rae, looking elated, a young man in his twenties entered and stood in front of the counter, with two fierce-looking hawks perched on his shoulders. Near the shoulder blades where the hawks rested, he wore leather protective pads to shield his body from the birds’ talons. No sword was visible at his waist. Instead, judging by the sturdy steel arm guards he wore, he seemed to be an expert in martial arts or claw techniques. The blackened fingers on his hands suggested he was likely a master of claw techniques.

Upon seeing him, the store owner greeted him respectfully, with a level of formality not typically shown to ordinary customers.

“3rd Young Master, welcome.”

“How have you been, Manager Ha?” the young man, with a golden hawk embroidered on his chest, acknowledged.

He was none other than Woo Sung-chan, the third beloved disciple of Eung Sung-hyun, the Flying Eagles King of the Thousand Hawk Hall. This explained Manager Ha’s deferential attitude.

“Who were those people who just left? I haven’t seen them before.”

“Ah, they are the first-year students who entered the sect this year. They likely came to purchase a messenger hawk to commemorate their admission, as it happens every year.”

It was an annual event that around this time, the Thousand Hawk Hall’s branch office would be bustling with customers coming to buy their own messenger hawks. It was not a particularly notable occurrence. However…

“By any chance, was the hawk they took the one I’m thinking of?”

Woo Sung-chan’s interest lay not in the people, but in the hawk they had taken. Since he was unaware of Hae Dong-cheong’s new name, he referred to it as “that one.” He was clearly referring to Woo-rae, whom Bi Ryu-yeon had purchased after intense haggling.

“Yes, indeed. That fellow has finally found its match.”

“Wasn’t that hawk a troublemaker that no one could handle except for the Sect Leader? I can hardly believe it would obediently follow a customer, especially a rookie first-year student.”

“Yes, I found it hard to believe as well. That hawk wouldn’t stay still in front of anyone except the Sect Leader. But this time, it sat docilely before that customer like a mouse before a cat. It was truly unexpected.”

“Ho, that’s quite intriguing. You must know the name of the customer who just left. Tell me.”

Messenger hawks served the function of delivering letters, so the sellers traditionally marked each bird with an individual number and a regional indication. This was to prevent any confusion in the correspondence. Therefore, the Thousand Hawk Hall’s branch office naturally kept records of the hawks’ owners.

The Thousand Hawk Hall had amassed enormous wealth not only through the sale of messenger hawks but also by operating a postal service. As messenger hawks replaced carrier pigeons and dominated the skies of the martial arts world, the Thousand Hawk Hall’s power and wealth had grown alongside them.

Manager Ha checked the ledger once more.

“Here it is. The name is Bi Ryu-yeon.”

“Is that so? I’ve never heard of that person. Is there anyone by that name among the rising stars of the martial arts world?”

The young man briefly searched through the list of names in his mind, but he couldn’t find that name. This suggested a high possibility that the person was an unknown newcomer.

“Well, I can find out later. Since they managed to tame that hawk… I’m just curious about who they are, so don’t worry too much about it. That hawk may have a nasty temper, but its abilities are second to none. Why else would the Sect Leader have personally trained it?”

“Indeed. By the way, what brings you here today?”

“Ah, silly me. It’s about my Chwi-ah‘s collar. I wanted to replace it with a new one.”

Only then did the young man reveal his purpose. Chwi-ah was the name of the brown falcon perched on his left shoulder, one of the two hawks he owned. Most hawks wore collars according to their owner’s preference. The collars bore the hawk’s name and the owner’s name, serving not only to indicate ownership but also being frequently used for other purposes these days.

“Oh, what about the previous collar?” Manager Ha inquired.

Woo Sung-chan briefly showed an embarrassed expression before explaining.

“Ah… about that… I lost it.”

Suddenly, Manager Ha’s face brightened.

“Congratulations, young master. You’ve succeeded. So, who’s the lucky lady?”

He’s quick-witted, indeed... Woo Sung-chan glanced at Manager Ha for a moment before changing the subject. He decided there was no need to divulge every detail.

“Ahem… there’s no need to know all that. Just prepare a new collar for me.”

Manager Ha chided himself for his imprudence. There was no need for an old fossil like himself to meddle in the romantic affairs of the young. It would only make him lose points with the other party.

“Oh, my. This old man was being foolish for a moment. Leave it to me. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow without fail.”

“Then, I’ll be counting on you.”