Chapter 104 : You Were Mistaken

Chapter 104: You Were Mistaken

Sima Baek blinked.

‘I have no need for the Alliance Leader’s seat either.’

At those words, all the proposals drifting about in his head were washed away, clean and sharp.

“Heh heh heh…”

The other man’s attitude could be summed up in a single phrase.

‘Don’t bother me.’

That attitude came across blatantly and unmistakably.

Realizing this, Sima Baek’s heart began to burn. That was the way of people—what they could not have, they desired even more desperately.

This was the first time in his life he had felt this way. And of course it was only natural. After all, was he not the Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance? There was not a single person under heaven who would fail to thank him for his proposals.

“I see. I must have been rambling on without considering your opinion. I feel rather embarrassed, and sorry for that.”

Sima Baek laughed awkwardly as he spoke.

Jin Seong-un casually replied,

“It’s fine. It’s nothing that can’t be spoken of.”

“I hear the food at Seong-un Inn is exceptionally good in both taste and quality.”

“That rumor has spread as far as Wuhan?”

Sima Baek clearly saw it—the lifeless, fish-eyed gaze of Jin Seong-un flicker for an instant with light.

“Yes, of course. I’ve always been curious just how excellent an inn it is. I’ve long wanted to visit myself.”

“Well… hmm. Is that so.”

Sima Baek witnessed another rare sight: the corner of Jin Seong-un’s lips twitching ever so slightly.

‘So that’s it!’

At last, Sima Baek understood.

The formidable young man before him was not a martial artist, but a mere innkeeper and waiter.

“You’re planning to leave for Yichang right away, aren’t you?”

“Yes. I came to offer thanks for the help at Qinghai Iron Workshop.”

“Ha ha, thanks are unnecessary. On the contrary, the Orthodox Faction of Murim should be thanking you. As it happens, I was about to leave myself. To reach Wuhan, I must pass through Yichang. Why don’t we go together? I could visit your inn along the way.”

Sima Baek offered, saying he could arrange carriage or boat, allowing them to travel in comfort and speed.

He also thought this was the perfect chance to properly understand what kind of man this Guest Dragon was, and what sort of inn he ran.

But Jin Seong-un scratched his head and replied,

“That would be difficult.”

“Why so?”

“Because I plan to run.”

Sima Baek’s face went blank with disbelief.

Run? That entire distance?

Granted, the movement arts of a master like Guest Dragon could indeed outpace a carriage or boat.

But only for shorter distances.

When traveling across multiple cities, even a master would at best match the speed of a horse—and usually, a horse was faster.

Why else would the Murim Alliance raise their horses with such care, if not for their speed?

Sima Baek explained this and added,

“Do you know the term ‘Eight Hundred Li Express’? It refers to how the imperial court handles the most urgent official documents. They use only the finest horses and couriers at each relay station.”

“I see.”

“It is, without doubt, the fastest means of travel in the world. And the only thing comparable to it—no, the only true rival—is the Murim Alliance.”

Sima Baek spoke the words ‘Murim Alliance’ with great emphasis. Jin Seong-un nodded, then looked at him.

His eyes said it plainly: So what?

That expression made Sima Baek hastily add,

“Three days. In three days you could reach Yichang from here. And of course, if you became a Captain, you could enjoy such privileges constantly. The Alliance possesses an enormous and intricate communication network. No matter where you go under heaven, there would be people ready to aid you…”

“I’ll get there in one day.”

Sima Baek closed his mouth again.

After a moment of silence, he narrowed his eyes and spoke with a faint, amused smile.

“Heh heh, you’ve got a touch of arrogance. But at your age, that’s fine to see. Confidence is the essence of a martial artist.”

“It isn’t arrogance. It’s simply the truth.”

Jin Seong-un’s tone was firm—no, not only firm, but almost plain. He was not boasting; he was merely stating fact.

Perhaps it might not even take him a full day.

His recent trip to Qinghai had been filled with endless running. And regrettably, he felt as though his talent as a thief had risen even further.

Sima Baek smirked, his expression deliberately provocative.

“Then how about a wager with me?”

“I’m rather sick of wagers now…”

Had he not just faced the most grueling wager of his life?

The mere word “wager” made his energy drain away.

Seeing Jin Seong-un’s eyes quickly cool, Sima Baek hurried to amend his words.

“N-no, not a wager—let’s call it a race! I’ll ride a horse, and you will run. We’ll see who reaches Seong-un Inn first.”

Jin Seong-un remained indifferent.

It was still a wager, no matter how one phrased it.

“And what would I gain from this race?”

“First, let me say this. The merit you earned this time will be highly praised within the Orthodox Murim. Naturally, there will be rewards and recognition befitting it. That is not a proposal—it is simply a certainty.”

“I’ll gratefully accept that.”

Jin Seong-un nodded.

As a merchant, there was no reason to refuse due compensation for one’s accomplishments.

Of course, if that compensation came in the form of a Captain’s or Leader’s seat, that was another story.

“Good. Aside from that, if you win this race, then within the limits of my ability—and within ethical bounds—I shall grant you one request.”

“And if I lose?”

“You will visit the Murim Alliance.”

“No, that’s…”

“I mean it literally. Just a visit. Take a tour and leave. It will be an interesting experience.”

Jin Seong-un considered.

He remembered how useful the Tang Clan’s Green Jade Token had been. This promise from Sima Baek felt similar.

He had intended to run to Yichang anyway. The race cost him nothing.

If he lost, he would simply visit the Murim Alliance. Annoying, yes—but he was not entirely uninterested.

He had, by chance, made many friends in the Orthodox Faction. He was curious about the place where they were most active.

“Then may I bring along a friend?”

“A friend? Who?”

“Our inn’s chef.”

Sima Baek smiled as though he liked the idea even more.

“Ha ha ha, of course. Come in comfort. Ah, and naturally, you are welcome at any time, regardless of the race’s outcome.”

Sima Baek had no idea.

Sima Baek ran with all his might.

After all, he too was a man of Murim.

His competitiveness could not be compared with that of an ordinary martial artist.

He personally rode his horse.

He did not even sleep.

Since he had cultivated martial arts, he could force himself to stay awake for about three days straight.

Without rest, he left Shaanxi Province and stopped briefly at a place called Dankanggu in Hubei Province.

It was the front yard of the Zhuge Clan, and also the site of a Murim Alliance relay station.

The sudden appearance of the Chief Strategist made the relay managers jump in shock.

“C-Chief Strategist, what brings you here…!”

“A horse! Bring me a horse!”

“P-Pardon?”

“Don’t waste time being surprised—bring me a horse!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

At once, they brought out the finest steed in the station. Just in case, they also prepared jerky and a waterskin, offering them with care.

“C-Chief Strategist, please take these at least…”

Swoosh—!

Like the sound of the wind itself, the Chief Strategist was gone in an instant. The manager’s outstretched hand, holding the jerky and waterskin, remained awkwardly suspended in the air.

Staring after him in bewilderment, the manager muttered,

“Wasn’t he famous for being incredibly benevolent? Was that just a false rumor?”

His colleague scratched his head and replied,

“Maybe he has something extremely urgent. That would explain it. He’s the busiest man under heaven, isn’t he?”

“Ah, I suppose so.”

But what could be so urgent that the Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance would ride personally, eyes bloodshot, whipping his horse?

The two men exchanged pale looks.

“Th-the Demonic Cult?”

That day, from the Zhuge Clan in Dankanggu, dozens of carrier pigeons flew toward the Murim Alliance.

And so, Sima Baek arrived in Yichang.

It was just at daybreak.

Though he had expected three days, his mad journey had brought him in two and a half.

He promptly asked the diligent merchants for directions to Seong-un Inn. Interestingly, every merchant in Yichang knew of it.

When he finally arrived, Sima Baek blinked in disbelief at the signboard and the building before him.

“Th-this is supposed to be an inn?”

There was a common saying about Seong-un Inn.

Praise for the waiter Jin Seong-un was expected, but people also said that while the inn was not large, it was immaculately clean, and the food was truly excellent.

Yet in person, it was the largest, grandest, and most splendid inn he had ever seen.

If this was considered “not large,” then even the Murim Alliance itself should be treated as nothing more than a martial academy.

“It clearly says Seong-un Inn, and yet…”

Just then.

A voice came from within.

“Damn that crazy chef…”

Grumbling, Seomun Ak stepped outside with a broom in hand—and froze.

“C-Chief Strategist?”

“Heh heh, it’s been a while.”

Sima Baek maintained his dignity as he greeted him.

He marveled at how Seomun Clan’s notorious wastrel, said to have reformed of late, truly seemed different—even his eyes.

‘As expected, this inn is no ordinary place.’

For an inn to reform a wastrel the Clan Head Seomun Jeok could never change.

Not to mention how his grandson, Sima Hwi, had also been forced to abandon his wastrel life here in Yichang.

“So then, the master of this inn is…”

“Ah, you mean Jin Seong-un?”

Sima Baek’s heart thumped.

Seomun Ak then looked toward the inside of the inn.

Jin Seong-un walked out yawning.

“Ah, you’re here. You arrived sooner than I expected. I thought it hadn’t even been three days yet.”

Sima Baek’s bloodshot eyes grew moist.

As he staggered, Seomun Ak tossed aside his broom and hurried over to support him.

“A-are you alright?”

“Heh heh, I’m fine. Just a bit hungry…”

“Goodness. Please, have a meal first.”

And in that moment, Seomun Ak realized something.

In the past, he would have avoided Sima Baek’s gaze or slipped away entirely. For the Chief Strategist’s upright and rigid character had always made the wastrel Seomun Ak feel uncomfortable and afraid.

But now, though startled by his sudden appearance, he felt neither fear nor the urge to flee.

‘Perhaps I’ve truly become an adult.’

As Seomun Ak basked briefly in his own growth, Jin Seong-un spoke again.

“The race is mine. As promised, when the time comes, I’ll come to you with a request. And aside from that…”

He paused.

Sima Baek’s expression tensed, until Jin Seong-un smacked his lips and said,

“If it’s alright, could I take you up on your earlier offer and visit the Murim Alliance?”

Seo Yu-gyeom had heard of the race and eagerly recommended it, his eyes shining.

Sima Baek’s face brightened immensely.

“Of course! That goes without saying!”

“Ah, this is the chef I mentioned before.”

A sly voice came from inside the inn. With dragging steps, a man walked out.

“Oh ho, so I’ll finally get to see the Murim Alliance. I hear the security is formidable there.”

It was Seo Yu-gyeom.

Back in his assassin days, he had tried more than once to infiltrate the Murim Alliance. He hadn’t gone to kill anyone, but rather to gather information.

How many halls it had, how the buildings were arranged, what the roofs were made of, how wide the streets were…

Such details were essential for an assassin to secure.

But entering the Murim Alliance headquarters was nearly impossible, even for an elite assassin. Perhaps only the Deathshroud Leader or Vice Leader could manage it.

Now, he had the chance to walk right through the main gate.

And if asked why a chef would need such information…

‘Because you never know.’

Seo Yu-gyeom grinned darkly at Sima Baek.

And when Sima Baek met that unique, cold, dangerous aura of his, he realized instinctively—

Something had gone terribly wrong.