Chapter 55
Chapter 55
“It's gotten late. We should start preparing to camp.”
At Youngho’s words, the group quickly began preparing their sleeping spots or carrying over the ingredients.
“There was a wild boar nearby. I also caught a few rabbits.”
While Hyeon-gang trimmed the vegetables, Horyeung brought back several mountain beasts. Among them, Youngho selected a particularly large wild boar, skinned it, and began cooking.
Before long, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon, having finished preparing the sleeping area, stood watching Youngho while swallowing their saliva. Amused by the sight, Youngho let out a small chuckle.
“I’ll have it ready soon. Just wait a little. Horyeung, if there are more rabbits nearby, catch a few more.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Youngho’s cooking was very simple. He merely grilled the meat and sprinkled the salt he had brought. It was nothing special in terms of preparation, yet there was something strangely addictive about the dishes he made.
It could not be called the taste of the heavens, but it was more than enough to slap the faces of most chefs three times over.
The secret lay in his skill at grilling the meat.
Not only his delicate control over the fire, but most importantly—
Whoosh!
He cooked using Samadhi True Fire, something only those who had reached the level of a Transcendent Peak Master could wield.
As Samadhi True Fire flowed from Youngho’s hand, the wild boar meat began roasting while keeping its interior moist.
He skewered the meat, placing vegetables roasted in the meat’s fat between the pieces, and finally seasoned it with salt. That was all.
After letting it sit for a moment, Youngho handed the skewers out to everyone and said,
“You can eat now.”
Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon received theirs with delight, while Hyeon-gang, seemingly still unable to believe that Youngho had used Samadhi True Fire, picked up the meat with trembling hands.
And Horyeung…
He simply wore a faint smile as he enjoyed the meat. Judging by the grease staining the corner of his lips, it seemed to be quite delicious.
Though he continued cooking, Youngho also took bites of meat from time to time. Looking at Horyeung and Hyeon-gang, he said,
“Want a drink?”
Horyeung widened his eyes.
“Don’t you usually avoid alcohol altogether?”
“I just feel like drinking.”
“Meat is incomplete without liquor.”
Horyeung said as he pulled out the alcohol he had already prepared,
“I’ll take that as permission.”
“You really do like alcohol too much.”
Horyeung chuckled.
“In a place like this, one never knows when such elegance might disappear.”
“That’s true.”
As he poured drinks for Youngho and Hyeon-gang, Horyeung said,
“It’s fortunate we stopped by Luoyang. We were able to buy such fine liquor.”
“If you wanted, I could’ve bought it for you.”
“Liquor like this tastes best when bought with one’s own money. Perhaps it’s because I’m getting old.”
“I wouldn’t know. I don’t enjoy alcohol much.”
“At times like this, Young Master, you seem too much like a Daoist.”
“You calling me Monk Malko?”
“You know that isn’t what I meant.”
“I know. Still, I’m different from those long-nosed fellows.”
“As you say.”
Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon simply ate their meat while quietly listening to the two converse. Hyeon-gang, too, merely listened to the oddly serene exchange between them.
“You don’t like alcohol. Is there a reason you’re drinking?”
“Something difficult came to mind.”
“I see.”
Without another word, the two simply raised their cups. Yet the silence that settled over them was not uncomfortable.
Rather, it felt calming and peaceful, like watching an immortal in meditation.
Horyeung set down his cup and spoke.
“Do you think something will happen?”
“Perhaps.”
“That’s not very reassuring.”
“It won’t be something bad.”
“But not something good either.”
“I’m not sure about that.”
With a bitter smile, Youngho said,
“Sometimes I think of a friend who died.”
“Is your friend there?”
“Yes. It’s the place where he was born and raised.”
“I’d like to know more, but as always, you’ll stop here, won’t you?”
“Sorry. That can’t be helped.”
“I understand.”
“Alright.”
Tomorrow, Youngho would go to the place his deceased friend had once protected. Or more precisely, the territory that his friend’s clan had guarded.
Youngho simply sipped his drink.
When the next day came, Youngho and his group immediately set off once more toward their destination.
The horses given by the Gold-Blood Hall were each worthy of being called a famed steed. They were so exceptional that one would likely need to pay in units of gold just to purchase a single one. They were truly fast.
Thus, Youngho’s group arrived in Shandong.
After placing their horses in the stable, they secured rooms at an inn.
“Inn Attendant, give us one annex.”
“It will be quite expensive. Is that alright?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, then please follow me.”
As Youngho followed behind the Inn Attendant, the others followed as well. Soon they entered a large annex, and Youngho spoke to the Inn Attendant.
“Inn Attendant, bring us plenty of food.”
“Pardon? Won’t you be dining outside?”
“I’d rather not get involved in unnecessary disputes.”
Unnecessary disputes. Knowing the meaning behind those words, the Inn Attendant immediately nodded.
“Yes. Then I will prepare our finest dishes.”
“Good.”
As if pleased with the Inn Attendant’s attitude, Youngho tossed him One Nyang of Silver. The Inn Attendant could not hide his delighted expression as he offered his thanks and promptly left.
With a puzzled look, Hyeon-gang asked Youngho,
“By the way, Young Master, why won’t we dine outside? The annex is comfortable, but it doesn’t seem particularly suited for a meal.”
At Hyeon-gang’s question, Horyeung let out a small chuckle, while Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon nodded as if they understood.
At such an innocent question from Hyeon-gang, Youngho let out a low hum before speaking.
“It seems you don’t know, having grown up only within your clan.”
“I am not a Martial Artist, so when would I ever have had reason to go out?”
“That’s true. You are not someone who kills people, but someone who saves them.”
“That’s right.”
“And as a physician, you also know that there should never be a need to save people in the first place.”
“Of course. I wish there would never again be anyone injured by a blade.”
“Yes. But an inn is the place where people are injured by blades more than anywhere else.”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
“Until now, we only stayed in places managed by the Orthodox Sect, so you haven’t seen what commonly happens in inns. But this is the most remote area in Shandong.”
“Even if it is remote, blade fights do not break out that easily. If patients appear, it would more likely be because of wild beasts.”
“That’s true. But Martial Artists lack logic.”
“What do you—?”
Bang!
A thunderous crash suddenly cut off Hyeon-gang’s words. In contrast to Hyeon-gang’s startled reaction, Horyeung merely chuckled it off, and Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon calmly tended to their swords as if it were nothing.
Realizing he was the only one surprised, Hyeon-gang looked to Youngho to understand what was happening. Youngho only smirked.
“This is what an inn is truly like.”
“You damned sons of these bald-headed monks!”
“You blood-crazed villains!”
As sounds of things breaking and tearing echoed outside the annex, Hyeon-gang fidgeted anxiously and looked at Youngho.
“Shouldn’t we stop them?”
“Why would we? They wouldn’t listen to me even if they were about to die.”
“But still, if one of the Three Dragons spoke, might that not change something?”
“Didn’t I say? These matters must be handled discreetly.”
At Youngho’s firm answer, Hyeon-gang could only groan helplessly like a puppy needing to relieve itself.
Just as Hyeon-gang was about to leave his seat to at least treat the injured—
Snap.
Like a string of a lute breaking mid-performance, the chaotic noise abruptly ceased.
The horrifying sounds of flesh being cut by blades and fists rupturing organs stopped as if they had been nothing but illusion. Silence settled over the annex as well.
“I’ll go check.”
As Horyeung boldly rose from his seat, Youngho stopped him with a hand.
“It’s fine.”
“But—”
“I know. There wasn’t any particular sound, and yet the fight stopped suddenly. The reason is obvious.”
Maintaining his relaxed smile, Youngho continued,
“It seems a rather strong one has appeared.”
Step. Step.
Youngho’s group focused on the footsteps approaching them.
“And it seems their target is us.”
Even at this moment, Youngho was issuing silent commands. When he looked at Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon, they immediately understood and hurriedly pulled Hyeon-gang to the corner.
Crack.
It had been a long time since he felt such exhilaration. Youngho let out a chilling crack of bones from his hand as he gripped the sword hilt.
“Someone quite impressive is coming.”
Horyeung, too, seemed to sense the hidden Martial Presence of the opponent and merely placed his hand on his sword hilt.
Feeling the concealed power of the one approaching the annex, Youngho thought,
‘Who is it? Someone from the Demonic Cult?’
No, that was unlikely. Unless someone had leaked information, the Demonic Cult would have no reason to pay attention to him for the time being.
But what if someone had spread information about him?
‘Surely not that mad bitch?’
No, the probability of that was not high either. As far as he knew, the information that reached the Demonic Cult was that Shaolin and the Beggars’ Sect had joined forces to raid a Jiangshi production site.
But would the Demonic Cult pay attention not to Shaolin or the Beggars’ Sect, but to Muyeon?
‘That makes no sense.’
To the Demonic Cult, Muyeon was merely a wandering warrior. Why would they seek her out?
As he turned these thoughts over, he suddenly felt a familiar aura. Youngho let out a sigh of disbelief.
“She’s really persistent.”
“Pardon? What did you just say?”
“Nothing. The opponent doesn’t seem to harbor hostility.”
“That’s a relief.”
Despite his words, Horyeung did not drop his guard.
Knock, knock.
Soon, someone knocked on the door and spoke.
“I am Hwangbo Geumhyeon of the Hwangbo Clan. I came because I have something to discuss. Would you step out?”
Youngho instantly formed a gentle smile.
“You may come inside. Let us speak here.”
Youngho’s soft voice naturally eased the hearts of those who heard it.
“…Very well. My niece has come with me as well, so I hope you won’t be too startled.”
“Understood.”
The door soon opened, and a woman cupped her fists and spoke.
“Ni.ce. to meet you. I am Hwangbo Nyeong of the Hwangbo Clan.”
As Hwangbo Nyeong spoke in a voice bubbling with restrained fury, Youngho lightly returned the fist salute.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Nyeong. I am Youngho.”
Smiling brightly, he continued,
“What brings you here?”
Youngho received Hwangbo Nyeong’s greeting so naturally that a crack appeared in her expression.