Chapter 40 : Even Now, He Hasn’t Come?

Chapter 40: Even Now, He Hasn’t Come?

Early morning, at Seong-un Inn.

By now, it had become routine. Familiar faces had gathered together, chatting in a relaxed manner.

“Heo, so that’s what happened?”

White Cloud Sword Hyeon-un stroked his beard in admiration.

The tale of Jin Seong-un and Seomun Ak heading to Heukshi together, subjugating the Unorthodox Path, and rescuing children stirred his heart.

Hyeon-un’s gaze turned to Seomun Ak.

He had thought the fellow was nothing but a good-for-nothing scoundrel.

Seomun Ak, who had been wiping down a table before opening for business, flinched under Hyeon-un’s stare.

Hyeon-un gave him a sly smile and said,

“How was it?”

Seomun Ak did not immediately understand the question. When no answer came right away, Hyeon-un spoke again.

“You must have received thanks from the children. In my eyes, that should have been your first experience with something like that.”

In a way, it was an insult.

Righteous sect martial artists always carried out heroic deeds. They placed great value on subjugating evil and protecting the peace of the common folk.

Thus, hearing words of gratitude from commoners was nothing unusual. But judging from Seomun Ak’s conduct, such an event could never have happened before.

Seomun Ak, though grumbling under his breath, recalled the children bowing their heads to him.

–We are truly grateful, Seomun Hero!

Seomun Hero, of all things.

They had acted like little adults, bowing properly as if they had learned it somewhere.

That peculiar feeling he had experienced then brushed once more across Seomun Ak’s heart like a passing breeze.

“……I do not know.”

It was an honest response.

He had not felt overwhelming joy, nor had he felt displeasure. If anything, it was closer to a faint sense of awkwardness.

“Is that so?”

Hyeon-un smiled mischievously.

It was the kind of smile an old man wore when he thought he understood children’s feelings better than they did.

“Then you’ll just have to try again.”

“Eh?”

“I mean heroic deeds. Do it again next time, and observe your feelings. If you still don’t know, then do it yet again. Keep repeating it, and eventually, you will understand what it is you are truly feeling.”

Hyeon-un already knew the emotion Seomun Ak had felt. That awkwardness had sprung from guilt and shame.

Can someone who had lived as a scoundrel like him deserve such gratitude?

Perhaps, to others, he had been no different than those Unorthodox Path bastards of Heukshi?

Such thoughts, buried in his subconscious, had stirred a strangely uncomfortable feeling.

Hyeon-un was curious about Seomun Ak’s tomorrow. And the day after that. Would he one day awaken and become a true hero? Or would he remain a scoundrel until the end and die as one?

“Hey, stop tormenting the young lad and just eat your meal.”

Shin Mok, who was eating breakfast with Hyeon-un, scolded him. He always visited Seong-un Inn in the mornings alongside Hyeon-un.

“And what about you, Shin Mok?”

“What about me?”

“You visit every day, don’t you think that makes Seong-un uncomfortable? With me, it’s fine since we’re already close, but to him, you’re just another bothersome old man.”

Hyeon-un shot back without yielding.

In truth, Jin Seong-un wore an awkward expression. Shin Mok noticed and asked him,

“Do you find my visits unpleasant?”

“……No, sir.”

That was his reply, but his face said otherwise.

“Be honest,” Shin Mok pressed, narrowing his eyes.

“It’s only that I feel guilty. After you repaired the inn for me, it keeps getting destroyed again and again.”

At that honest confession, Shin Mok burst into laughter.

He had thought the boy emotionless, but clearly, that wasn’t the case.

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already decided to make use of this inn myself.”

There was a reason Shin Mok had not left Yichang. When Jin Seong-un looked at him curiously, Shin Mok explained.

“You have a devilish charm.”

“……What?”

Jin Seong-un looked as if he had heard something he should not have. He even took a step back.

“Not like that. What I mean is—you have this strange charm that draws madmen to you.”

“Look around. Isn’t this inn full of lunatics? The cook inside, Seo Yu-gyeom, is filled with murderous intent. Seomun Ak is a scoundrel through and through. White Cloud Sword is a sly old fox. And even that food-obsessed lunatic, the Food Butcher, wandered in of his own accord….”

By this point, Jin Seong-un was not sure if this was an insult or a compliment. Shin Mok, however, grinned broadly.

“This inn is destined to be smashed to pieces over and over. Fix it, and it’ll just get broken again. That’s why I called my disciple here. With a place that keeps getting destroyed, he’ll have endless opportunities to train.”

For a martial artist, it was like breaking training dummies every day only to find them restored the next morning.

That was Shin Mok’s plan—to stay at Seong-un Inn, teaching his disciple while also experimenting with new building techniques.

Jin Seong-un let out a quiet sigh. It was a situation where one could neither laugh nor cry.

“……Such things won’t happen again.”

He spoke with sincerity. He was not pleased with how often the inn was damaged.

But Shin Mok only smiled firmly.

“Well, we shall see.”

It was practically a curse, spoken to his face.

But since Shin Mok was also the one repairing the inn every time, Jin Seong-un had no room to argue.

At least, he tried to defend them a little.

“Not everyone here is like that. Young Master Seomun has recently been reflecting deeply on his past. Elder White Cloud Sword always looks after us. And even Cook Seo has turned over a new leaf….”

Just then—

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

A loud noise erupted from the kitchen.

It was followed by the panicked voice of Han Seong-chun, the other cook of Seong-un Inn.

“S-Seo Cook! What are you doing? Please, a little gentler….”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Seo Yu-gyeom was preparing ingredients, but the sound was anything but ordinary.

Jin Seong-un peeked into the kitchen through the small window. Seo Yu-gyeom was chopping a fish head, but his eyes and expression looked as though he were facing a life-or-death enemy.

On either side of Jin Seong-un, both Hyeon-un and Shin Mok also leaned forward to look. Both sighed heavily in unison.

“Look at him! With such murderous intent, he’s bound to cause a big incident one day.”

“Can we really just watch idly?”

Seo Yu-gyeom’s eyes brimmed with terrifying killing intent.

Han Seong-chun, who had never trained in martial arts, was so shaken that he instinctively backed away.

“……Seo Cook.”

Jin Seong-un called out to Seo Yu-gyeom, his voice infused with subtle inner qi. While Hyeon-un and Shin Mok admired Jin Seong-un’s refined technique, Seo Yu-gyeom’s eyes regained their clarity.

“Ah.”

Seo Yu-gyeom let out a short sigh.

He immediately scooped up some water from a basin and splashed it over his face. The cool water touching his skin seemed to clear his mind again.

Seo Yu-gyeom exhaled softly. Lately, the urges of his killing intent had been growing stronger.

It seemed the instincts of the Heaven-Slaying Star, suppressed during his fight with the Food Butcher, had been stirred once more.

“Seong-un, are you truly fine with using that boy as a cook? It’s not that I dislike Seo Cook, but I worry he may cause disaster.”

At Hyeon-un’s question, Jin Seong-un scratched his head awkwardly. Nothing had happened yet, but Seo Yu-gyeom’s state certainly seemed dangerous.

Hearing Hyeon-un’s words, Seo Yu-gyeom himself spoke up.

“If I truly believe I’ve become dangerous, I’ll leave the inn on my own.”

Seo Yu-gyeom had always considered that possibility. If one day the Heaven-Slaying Star’s murderous instincts broke free of his control, he would leave immediately.

He cherished Seong-un Inn and Jin Seong-un, but he could not allow himself to destroy everything.

Hyeon-un regarded Seo Yu-gyeom with a doubtful expression. Seo Yu-gyeom, however, averted his gaze and silently returned to preparing the fish.

Late evening.

As usual, the inn was moderately peaceful, yet lively enough.

No Sang-won and other nearby merchants had gathered after closing their shops, sharing drinks together.

What had captivated them recently was the specialty Bamboo Leaf Green.

Originally, it was a rare liquor not available in Yichang. But when Jin Seong-un brought in the Jingzhou Merchants’ Association, he had also introduced this drink.

No Sang-won stuffed his mouth with a large bite of braised pork belly, then downed a glass of Bamboo Leaf Green.

Its unique clear and refreshing aroma washed away the grease and strong spices completely.

“Khh! No matter how much I drink, I never tire of it!”

Of course, it was expensive enough that his wife scolded him to drink less. Still, to preserve his dignity as head of the household, No Sang-won insisted on drinking Bamboo Leaf Green every single day.

Then it happened.

Into the inn, usually filled with familiar patrons, entered four unfamiliar men.

Two middle-aged men in fine silk robes, and two young martial artists who seemed to be their escorts.

The men in silk robes casually swept their gaze across the inn’s interior.

“Smaller than it looked from the outside.”

“Indeed. I told you we should have stopped in the next town. What could we possibly eat in such a shabby inn?”

“My stomach’s already clinging to my back. Let’s just make do today, and tomorrow we’ll eat properly in Chongqing.”

Jin Seong-un greeted them. From their conversation, they appeared to be merchants traveling long distances—and wealthy ones at that.

“Please, sit wherever you find comfortable.”

The merchants nodded and chose a seat apart from the others.

The man in blue silk spoke.

“Two bottles of the most expensive liquor here. And for food… no, just bring us the simplest appetizer instead.”

The man’s words grated faintly on Jin Seong-un’s nerves. It felt as though he were saying that even if he ordered the most expensive dish here, it wouldn’t meet his standards, so he might as well stick to the simplest fare.

“Yes, understood.”

Jin Seong-un bowed.

He asked Seo Yu-gyeom to prepare stir-fried vegetables. It was indeed the simplest appetizer, but also Seo Yu-gyeom’s specialty.

Then he brought out Bamboo Leaf Green.

The men clicked their tongues.

“This is your most expensive liquor?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Tch, I was expecting at least Yanghe Daqu.”

As the blue-robed man complained, the middle-aged man in purple silk tried to restrain him.

“Even Bamboo Leaf Green is more than we should expect in such a place. Friend waiter, don’t mind him too much.”

“It’s just that Bamboo Leaf Green has that harsh bitterness. If this is truly the only option, then so be it—but isn’t it a drink for those poor souls who lack refinement?”

“Hahaha, try adjusting yourself to cheaper liquor once in a while. True, it’s not easy to drink regularly, but on a hard journey, it feels like a delicacy. It even gives one a sense of understanding the common folk’s life.”

As the saying went, “the one who restrains feels more aggravating.”

Thanks to their exchange, even the other guests—who had been drinking Bamboo Leaf Green as though it were the best liquor in the world—set down their cups with awkward expressions.

Then it happened.

The two escorts glanced calmly at Jin Seong-un. But when their eyes met Seomun Ak’s, they froze.

Their eyes widened. How could an inn’s waiter possibly be a First Rate Martial Artist?

One of the escorts lowered his voice.

“Master, perhaps we should choose another inn….”

“Indeed? You feel the same as I do, then. Truthfully, Bamboo Leaf Green—”

Just as the merchant was about to complain again—

“Tastes fine enough, yet you whine like brats.”

An old man suddenly spoke up.

The merchants turned to glare at him. Who dared speak such words to their faces?

These rural folk were always too coarse—that was their problem.

With that thought, the man in blue silk frowned at the old man. After all, with escorts whose skill had reached the Peak Master Level, he feared nothing.

“And who might you be, to butt into others’ conversation so rudely—”

“Ugh!”

The purple-robed merchant, Hwang In-pyeong, suddenly grabbed his companion Cheong Man-seok’s arm in shock.

“What are you doing? Let me go! That senile old man spoke rudely first!”

“Stop….”

“What nonsense are you babbling? Old man! Let’s hear you flap that loose tongue again!”

“I said stop! Do you even know who that is?!”

At Hwang In-pyeong’s outburst, Cheong Man-seok’s eyes went wide.

Though his friend Hwang In-pyeong carried himself with etiquette and formality, he was not the type to be easily shaken.

‘Just who is that old man?’

While Cheong Man-seok was bewildered, Hwang In-pyeong approached the old man with a respectful smile and bowed deeply.

“I am Hwang In-pyeong, Head of Yangyang Escort Agency. It is an honor to meet you, Elder.”

Yangyang was located between Mount Wudang, home of the Wudang Sect, and Yongzhong Mountain, seat of the Zhuge Clan.

Thus, Hwang In-pyeong often saw members of Wudang Sect and the Zhuge Clan at local events.

And incredibly, in this small shabby inn, stood none other than White Cloud Sword, an Elder of the Wudang Sect.

Hwang In-pyeong signaled to his friend Cheong Man-seok.

“Quickly, come pay your respects. This is Elder White Cloud Sword of the Wudang Sect.”

Before he could even finish—

Cheong Man-seok practically leapt forward as if kicked, bowing deeply to Hyeon-un.

“I-I am Cheong Man-seok, Head of Akju Trading Company. It is an honor to meet the famed Elder White Cloud Sword.”

The renowned Hyeon-un stroked his beard.

“Akju Trading Company? Then you must be acquainted with Dongho Trading Company. I recall briefly teaching swordsmanship to its master when he was a child. Is that boy still doing well?”

At his words, Cheong Man-seok’s face went pale.

Dongho Trading Company was a massive force dominating the Wuhan region, including Akju. Naturally, his Akju Trading Company survived only by attaching itself to Dongho.

But most importantly—the master of Dongho Trading Company was no child.

He was a grown man, an exceptional merchant, and also a Peak Master Level martial artist.

And yet White Cloud Sword spoke of him as though he were a neighborhood child. Cheong Man-seok felt keenly the overwhelming stature of this man.

“Haha, you’re both not young anymore. Straighten your backs.”

At Hyeon-un’s words, the two merchants hesitantly stood upright. Then Hyeon-un spoke again.

“So, what was it you said about Bamboo Leaf Green? Something about uneducated folk and the lives of commoners?”

The two merchants gasped sharply.

No matter how wealthy or influential they were, how could they compare to the Wudang Sect?

Then Hyeon-un glanced at Jin Seong-un with a smile. As if to say—

‘This is the Wudang Sect’s weight. Still not coming?’

That was the look in his eyes.