Moorim Pochang - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 104. The Banquet (2).

The meat was kept only as much as needed, then buried in ice.
But two days after being buried in ice, the meat had to be taken out again.
“Bring out the table and chairs. Get a fire going too.”
“Understood.”
Since hearing talk of departure, he had been making the table and chairs bit by bit.
Though crudely built, the table was far better than eating seated on bare ground.
While Yang Jung brought out the table and chairs, Kang Jo began to cook.
He prepared Dongpo Pork and even made Fish and Meat Noodles for Cho Yak.
As the Jamryong-hoe and Ma-gyo contingents entered the Guest Inn, the fragrance of rice rose from the pot and filled the air.
“At last we’re eating at a proper table.”
Ha, ha, ha…
“Eating from the ground wasn’t so bad either.”
The skilled personnel seemed quite pleased to be dining at tables.
Yang Jung set out Seasoned Vegetable Side Dishes and liquor at each table.
A few of the skilled personnel helped with the preparations—Baek Won-yeong, Ak Hwan, and Cheon Seok-pil among them.
Those who had filled their cups raised them in unison.
“May we continue to see these ugly faces at our next gathering.”
Ha, ha, ha…
Ho, ho, ho, ho…
At Dok-go Il’s witty remark, all the skilled personnel burst into laughter.
No one had died, so the mood was exceedingly festive and cheerful.
As bellies were filled with food and cups of liquor were passed around, Paeng Ga-hui and Baek Ha-yeong began to play the guqin.
Ting-di-ting…di-ting…
The skilled personnel sipped their cups to the sound of the guqin.
Kang Jo too listened to the guqin while threading meat onto skewers and roasting them.
Dok-go Il, who had been about to play the bamboo flute, quietly watched Paeng Ga-hui as she played the guqin.
‘She’s like a heavenly maiden descending to earth, playing the guqin.’
While he held her image in his eyes, Baek Won-yeong was equally entranced by her playing.
‘Sounds of heaven itself.’
Until now, he had not spoken often with Paeng Ga-hui.
But it seemed he would need to spend more time in her presence going forward.
Di-ting…ting.
Wow…!
As Paeng Ga-hui and Baek Ha-yeong finished their piece, the skilled personnel erupted in unified cheers.
“The guqin skills of Miss Paeng and Miss Baek were most excellent. Even in our school, few can be found who play as well as you both.”
Rising from his seat, Dok-go Il bowed toward Paeng Ga-hui and Baek Ha-yeong.
Then he withdrew the bamboo flute he had brought in his robes and placed it to his lips.
Twee-ri-ri-ri…twee-di…
As the bamboo flute’s melody rang out, the skilled personnel again turned their ears to the sound.
Baek Won-yeong watched him with an undisguised pang of regret.
He himself was no stranger to the guqin.
He had yielded his place for his companion, but now that Dok-go Il was playing the bamboo flute, he found it a shame not to accompany him.
Above all, he envied the way Paeng Ga-hui gazed at him, transfixed.
Yang Jung too felt envious of Dok-go Il.
The female members were watching him with shining eyes.
‘A man playing the bamboo flute can be so beautiful. Had I known this, I would have learned it myself.’

*

While the skilled personnel were lost in Dok-go Il’s bamboo flute melody, Cho Yak tilted her cup and traced old memories.
‘It was just like this long ago. Back then too, Moon-do and Yeop were entranced by Gwak Jo-eun playing the bamboo flute.’
Baek Moon-do and Dok-go Yeop were inseparable friends, yet they were rivals when it came to Gwak Jo-eun.
But since Gwak Jo-eun regarded Baek Moon-do only as a friend, Dok-go Yeop could only harbor an unrequited love.
Wow…
“Play us another piece, will you?”
The moment Dok-go Il removed the bamboo flute from his lips, the skilled personnel of Ma-gyo cried out, their voices rising in unison.
“Next time, then.”
Dok-go Il sat down, his face flushed in a way unlike him.
“Sam-ryong. Bring out the skewered meat.”
At Kang Jo’s words, Yang Jung slipped into the kitchen and whispered back.
“Elder brother. Might I learn to play the bamboo flute as well?”
“What of your Sal Gong practice?”
“Couldn’t I learn it in my spare moments?”
“Since you know that, hurry up and bring out the skewered meat.”
As Yang Jung set down the skewered meat, the skilled personnel refilled their cups with wine.
Kang Jo, who had been grilling the skewers, hurried out of the kitchen.
Shhh…
As he moved his hand upon leaving the kitchen, the sword resting in the corner was drawn toward his palm as if by invisible force.
“Welcome, Miss Gu Ya.”
The moment he cleared the fence, Gu Ya appeared, crossing the Stone Bridge.
She wore white robes that gleamed with a soft, lustrous light, and at her waist was a belt that contrasted sharply with the white of her dress.
“It seems you have many guests today.”
She smiled, glancing around the interior of the Guest Inn.
“My apologies. There are no seats available today. Please visit us another time.”
Kang Jo refused her with measured politeness.
He could have made room by force if necessary.
But for reasons he couldn’t quite name, he felt she should be turned away this evening.
“Table-sharing is perfectly fine. Since I’ve come all this way, I couldn’t simply leave without staying.”
“Then please, come inside.”
Kang Jo stepped aside, and Gu Ya entered the Guest Inn.
The moment she crossed the threshold, the merry atmosphere of the inn seemed to freeze, as if cold water had been poured over it, and a strange silence descended.
“Sam-ryong, make room for her.”
“Y-yes. Elder brother.”
Yang Jung, who had been standing slack-jawed, quickly disappeared toward the back of the Guest Inn.

*

None of the skilled personnel spoke.
They simply stared at Gu Ya.
As every eye in the room fixed upon her, the women’s gazes began to smolder with envy and resentment.
“I’m afraid I’ve rather spoiled the pleasant mood. I’m Gu Ya.”
She bowed gracefully, yet did not forget to introduce herself.
Gu Ya’s beauty was made all the more striking by the soft-gleaming white robes she wore.
“Ah… I am Chu Dong-il of Ma-gyo.”
“I am Jin Bo-gyeong of Jamryong-hoe.”
“I am of Ma-gyo………………”
The skilled personnel hurried forward to introduce themselves to her one after another.
“Delighted to meet you, Colleague Chu. Delighted to meet you, Colleague Jin…”
She responded graciously to each introduction, returning their courtesies without fail.
‘This is not good.’
Cho Yak, watching the scene unfold, knitted her brow.
Heroes and warriors renowned throughout the ages had more than once fallen to ruin through their attraction to beauty—losing not only their nations but their very lives.
The fate of kingdoms had been so thoroughly undone by women such as Daji, Baosi, Xi Shi, Yang Guifei, and Wang Zhaojun that the very phrase “Beauty Capable of Toppling Kingdoms” had come into being.
‘If women themselves would fall at a single glance, what chance do men have?’
Cho Yak recognized that this woman called Gu Ya was far from ordinary.
“I think it best we return to the Murim Alliance for the evening.”
At her words, the skilled personnel all wore expressions of disappointment.
“Couldn’t we drink a little longer, Colleague Cho?”
“We would be most grateful, Colleague Cho.”
Some of the skilled personnel made their disappointment all too plain.
“Let us depart.”
“It would be wise to rise now.”
But when Dok-go Il and Baek Won-yeong stood first, the others had no choice but to follow suit.
Dok-go Il and Baek Won-yeong would have preferred to remain a while longer.
Yet both felt, on some instinctive level, that this woman called Gu Ya was deeply disquieting.
“Wait just a moment, Baek Won-yeong.”
Gu Ya drew three silver coins from her pouch and handed them to Baek Won-yeong.
“I’m finally settling a debt with you. Thank you for your kindness last time, Baek Won-yeong.”
As she bowed, the skilled personnel watched Baek Won-yeong with eyes heavy with jealousy.
“It’s not necessary, Miss Gu.”
Baek Won-yeong felt considerably flustered.
“No, a debt must be repaid.”
As she pressed the coins forward, he reluctantly accepted them.
“I hope we’ll meet again.”
Gu Ya did not forget to offer her farewells to the skilled personnel as they departed the Guest Inn.
Her bow was directed toward them, yet her eyes lingered on Dok-go Eun’s hair.
‘Such beautiful hair. I truly covet it.’
With hair like that woven into garments, they would shine far more brilliantly.
The skilled personnel left the Guest Inn unable to tear their gaze from her.
‘I’ve encountered the most beautiful woman under heaven.’
‘Baek Won-yeong has a cunning side to him too. He knew of such a beauty all along and never said a word.’
Ha, ha……
“Please don’t take it to heart, Miss Gu. These colleagues have already had a great deal to drink.”
Yang Jung stepped in to speak on behalf of the Jamryong-hoe and the Ma-gyo.
Yet inwardly he was pleased to see them depart.
It meant more time alone with her.
“Yes, I understand.”
As Gu Ya smiled, Yang Jung’s heart began to pound violently.
‘She truly is a beautiful young lady.’
She turned her gaze toward Kang Jo.
“I enjoy meat dishes well enough, but I’m particularly fond of tofu. Do you have any tofu dishes here?”
“I apologize. If you would mention it beforehand, I can procure tofu and prepare it for you.”
Kang Jo replied while keeping his guard firmly in place.
Though he had never prepared a tofu dish before, he knew how to make one.
Long ago, he had watched his mother make tofu at her side.
Whenever his master sought a tofu dish, he would go to the village and buy it.
Each time, his master would grow irritable.
“Why make me send you all the way to the village? You should just make it yourself.”
“We have no beans, Master.”
Kang Jo would answer him in just such a manner every time.

*

Heh, heh……
“There’s no need for such trouble.”
Gu Ya smiled on the surface, though inwardly she felt disappointed.
‘If tofu were made in this Guest Inn, it would taste far better than anywhere else.’
Those skilled in cooking made even a dish they were preparing for the first time taste exceptional.
“Seasoned Vegetable Side Dish and Dongpo Pork.”
As Yang Jung set the dishes on the table, she quickly picked up her chopsticks.
‘As expected, it tastes excellent. I can’t fathom how one cooks to make even the rice itself taste this good.’
As she ate, she discreetly cast her gaze about.
Yang Jung stood entranced, his eyes fixed upon her, while Kang Jo arranged the dishes in the kitchen.
“Is there something you’re searching for, Miss Gu?”
The moment their eyes met, Yang Jung quickly approached.
“No, there isn’t anything yet.”
She turned her head away again and moved her chopsticks.
‘That woman Cho Yak is no ordinary person. Without her in the way, I could have wrapped all these men around my finger in an instant.’
Men who fell for a woman’s beauty were easy to kill.
They wouldn’t even realize how they died until the blade severed their necks.
Even after discovering that she was their enemy, they hesitated to draw their blades.
‘Should I kill this fool now?’
She gazed at Yang Jung, who bore a gentle smile, and returned his smile with one of her own.
He was handsome enough to be called the most beautiful man under heaven, yet the moment she decided, his neck would snap.
‘His hair has such a lustrous sheen too. It would make a fine garment indeed.’
Gu Ya moved her cherry-blossom lips.
“How long is your hair?”
Ha ha……
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand…?”
Yang Jung laughed brightly and asked for clarification.
He hadn’t grasped the meaning of her question.
“It’s just that your hair seems to shine.”
Only then did Yang Jung understand what she meant.
Ah……
“It doesn’t quite reach two feet, I think.”
He smoothed his tied-back hair with a pleased expression.
‘My hair is soft and does have a nice sheen to it.’
He’d been cutting it short all this time for convenience, but it seemed he’d need to let it grow from now on.
“Could I have another bowl?”
“Of course, Miss Gu.”
At her request, Yang Jung hurried into the kitchen.
Kang Jo watched him busily plate the Dongpo Pork.
‘He’s completely lost his mind.’

*

After finishing her meal, Gu Ya placed three silver coins on the table.
“That was delicious.”
This was the first time she’d paid for a meal here.
Ha ha……
“You really don’t need to pay for the food……”
When Yang Jung demurred, she laughed.
Ho ho…
“Then next time, you should treat me, Fellow Yang.”
He eagerly seized on her words.
“I’d be honored to.”
“Then I’ll be back.”
Gu Ya left the Guest Inn with a smile.
“I do hope we meet again, Miss Gu.”
Yang Jung stood on the Stone Bridge, watching her figure fade from sight.
Once she’d vanished, he turned back toward the Guest Inn with his face full of smiles.
“I don’t know where she lives. I’ll have to ask her next time she comes.”
Kang Jo sat before the table with a heavy expression.
“Come sit here.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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