Buying Information
Liu Ka Xing did not run alone, he brings one of his friends with him. Hai Zhen is a son of an official that was works for Liu Ka Xing's family. They have been friends since they can remember. He has followed Liu Ka Xing to train martial arts over various masters he had. He just not as good, not even close. Even then he is very tall and big guy, even as a teenager he is bigger than a lot of adults. This makes him stronger than average people, especially those that are not a martial art expert.
Unlike his friend, Hai Zhen likes the martial world so much. He may not as diligent at learning martial arts, but he reads a lot of stories about it. He knows their custom and every news around them. He loves their heroic achievements and yearns to join them. When Liu Ka Xing tells him his plan to run from his home, he did not need invitation to come along.
"I told you we cannot just find someone by walking around the town like this. This is a huge city and she might not be here after all."
After Lu Line departure, Liu Ka Xing has learned that she and her father decide to the Meifong city and try to settle there.
"So how are we going to find her?"
Liu Ka Xing though it will be easy for him before, but after wondering the town for a few days he realizes his efforts is useless. The city is so big, especially if the rural areas around it are counted.
"Of course, you have to hire people to look for them. In the martial world there is nothing that can be compared to the beggar sect in terms of gaining information. Their members are everywhere and their service are cheap."
The beggar sect is said to be the sect with most members, although nobody can affirm that claim. Since the beggar sect never count their own members, people can only predict by what they see. With so many beggars on the street, their number look bigger than it really is. Especially after the civil war and some disasters that happened, beggars have plaguing the kingdom. Not all beggars are part of the sect and able to fight, however most of them will help if they asked to.
A lot of people everywhere that is not arouse suspicion from others, making them perfect to look for some information. This fact is known in the martial world and so Hai Zhen for that matter.
"Is the beggar sect really reside here?" Liu Ka Xing can only agree to him since he did not know much about it.
"The beggar sect is everywhere. Whenever a lot of beggars gather, there surely be a branch of the sect. I am not sure where their main base is nor the whereabout of their leader, but I am sure there is a big branch here with its own "small" leader." This town is indeed filled with beggars, so there is no wonder about that.
"Their sect leader supposed to be Fa Zheng right? I heard he is one of the best martial artists in the Central Plain."
"Legend says so, but there is no way to confirm it. He is hardly seen in the martial world anymore. As of now, his notable achievements are all considered as myths. Even though of course, for once he was mentioned in the same level as Reverend Huang."
"So, you are saying that your favorite warrior; Hen Feng is better than him."
"It is hard to say, since I never actually meet both of them. Keep in mind though, that beggar is very old. While Hen Feng is still in his early thirties, if stories true. At his age he still has rooms to improve. To be mentioned as one of the best martial artists at his age is a huge achievement itself."
The best martial artists are always change, depends on the person you ask and when it is asked. While someone might make a list of ten of the best, there will be around thirty candidates whose name goes in and out the list for the time being. Hen Feng might not be the first ten name come out from most people, but he has established himself in the list of those thirty names.
"Then, what is this Hen Feng did that make him so famous this day?"
"Well, you can ask your girlfriend once we found her. She seems to be a idolize him more than I am."
Hai Zhen answer it with a smirk, as he knows what his friend think. He likes this girl and shows jealousy when he knows how much she likes Hen Feng. Both of them are spear user anyway and she liking him already known to friended her back at Liu's mansion.
"Wait, she is not my girlfriend! Whatever. Where is this beggar sect's base anyway?"
Looking for the beggar sect is not that hard either. Just look for beggar that seems to know some martial arts and give him a few coppers. The one they find is a low rank member and cannot make any decision, so he just led them to the "headquarter" to meet his boss.
The so called headquarter is a ruined building just outside the city wall. Inside it a lot of beggars resting there, making this place their home. This kind place is expected for the beggar sect hideout, but their leader is quite unexpected.
Their leader somehow is a teenager around their age. In the story they always heard about how the senior usually are the leader. Even if this is just a leader for, they never expect that someone that is not yet full grown to lead some adults.
"As you may have heard, I am the leader here and my name is Li Han. Worry not I have heard all your concern and it is easily solved. You have come to the right place. With only one hundred silver coins, you will find the girl of your dream in no time. We expect half of the payment upfront and the rest after we find her. In which means soon." After being notified by the young beggar, this Li Han starts to speaks non-stop, just like a merchant more than a beggar.
"What? But I heard the beggar sect only deals with copper. Why suddenly ask for such a huge amount?" Hai Zhen's complaint is not without basis, since he heard a lot of stories about them. Just like its name, the sect consisting of beggars. Even the leaders and higher ups, they are not supposed to think about wealth. Everything given to them usually are voluntarily and if it more than they needed, they have to give it to other beggars. But now one of their leaders just shamelessly ask for a huge sum of coins.
"Everything change my friend, the only thing that do not change is the change itself. Now, under my new management this sect surely will flourished more than before. To achieve that of course some donations are needed. Since this is your first time using our service, I can give you a cut. Ninety coins seems fair."
This guy does not even bother to coated his intention. He just shamelessly asks for money right away.
"That is far too expensive still. Besides there is no way we are going to give you any money before we see the result." Hai Zhen get back into his sense and change his approach. Instead of treating this person as a warrior from martial world, he now treats him like a merchant and haggle accordingly.
"Come on fatty! How can you be so unreasonable? We need resources to start our investigation. Look at us! A lot of us are hungry and not very healthy either. How can you ask these people to work for you before giving them appropriate foods and gears? I also have to keep them motivated before going to work. Before you make your bargain, let me show you how professional we can be."
Hai Zhen certainly does not like to be called fatty, but he tries to hold his anger. He knows that people like them never taught any manner like him.
"Fat Hao!! Where is Fat Hao? Go and look for him! See Fat Hao and Fat Hai, both of you going to get along well."
When the guy called Fat Hao comes out Hai Zhen get even more displeased. While big, Hai Zhen still has apparent muscle seen with him. Sure, there is some fat covering it, he loves to eat after all but also practice martial arts a lot. This Fat Hao however is fat to the core. His face is round and plump and so his neck, body and everything to his toe.
Unlike any other beggars, this guy wears what seems to be expensive fabrics. Even though his clothes still dirty and torn in few areas. He comes out with a plate of roasted chicken in his hand and a piece of it in his mouth.
Li Han asks other people to bring him papers and inks before asking Hai Zhen and Liu Ka Xing to explain about the person they looking for. Fat Hao quickly draws a brush from his belt and swiping the paper while munching his chicken. He even sped up his movement once he saw Li Han starts to take the chicken in his plate.
The amazing thing is the drawing he made looks exactly like Lu Lin. Liu Ka Xing knows some art, as a son from noble family, he has to learn those things. This drawing might not have the highest value of art, but this is perfect to look for someone. To make it in such short of time, this fat guy certainly very talented.
"See! Nobody else have our level of professionalism when it about to look for someone." Li Han starts to promote his sect's capability and thus begin the boring negotiation.
The negotiations take some time. This guy not only feels like a merchant but dishonest one as well. He knew his starting price was irrational so he gives massive discounts afterwards. Hai Zhen used to work for Liu Ka Xing's father and understands how to haggle. Unfortunately, he is completely new in terms of buying information in the martial world, so the end result still considered expensive.
Thirty silver coins, with five of it paid in advance. Li Ka Xing even promised ten more if the person he looking for are f ound in three days. While he is the son of a great merchant, he is never involved in it. He never even spends money directly. Everything he wants purchased by other people. All he knows is practicing, whether it is martial arts or any other type of arts.
"Now we already agree to the fees, we can work right away."
Li Han is not so petty to his subordinates. Once he received the five coins, he gives one to Fat Hao to reproduce his drawing and another coin to another beggar to rally the troops. Apparently spreading the drawing will be more effective if it is accompanied by a piece of bread.
Liu Ka Xing and Hai Zhen get home with a drawing of Lu Lin as a souvenir.
"This beggar sect is not like what I think it is. Are they really reliable?"
It is a question that bothering both of them. Since this is the first time for them to directly encounter a sect in martial world, both cannot answer this. It is certainly unlike the stories they have heard about.
In fact, although Li Han is peculiar in the martial world. The martial world itself never is like how the stories written. They only tell the grandeur of it. Heroes that saved the damsel in distress, warriors subduing bandits and other magnificent achievement. Those failed and died trying to do so are forgotten, despite their number are far exceeding those that succeed. That dark side of martial can only be known by those experience it by themselves. For both of them to dive into the martial world, it is inevitable that they will see those dark places.