Moorim Pochang - Chapter 17

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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 17. Where Is the Disciple?

Dawn broke, and his eyes opened of their own accord.
Kang Jo rose to his feet and pulled on his outer robe.
A low groan escaped him.
“You’re up early, aren’t you?” Yang Jung said.
Yang Jung brushed off his bedding and shrugged on his own coat.
They opened the door and stepped into the hallway, where a brisk wind greeted them at once.
A horse’s whinny pierced the dawn.
The moment Kang Jo drew in a deep breath of morning air, the sound of a stallion echoed from the back courtyard.
“Quiet all night, and now this noise at dawn—infuriating.”
Kang Jo, irritated, rushed toward the back courtyard.
A stallion was attempting to mate with a mare, who seemed to be struggling considerably.
“Stop.”
Kang Jo released a faint killing intent toward the stallion.
The stallion, mid-attempt, suddenly snapped its head toward Kang Jo.
In the predawn darkness, its eyes blazed with an eerie, piercing light.
“You dare, you wretch?”
Kang Jo, at his wit’s end, unleashed his Body Technique.
A sharp crack split the air.
His palm struck the stallion’s jaw, and the beast staggered backward.
It whinnied shrilly.
The reeling stallion reared up, wild fury flashing in its eyes.
“You insolent beast—”
Kang Jo surged forward with his Body Technique once more.
Another sharp thud.
His palm connected again, and the stallion crashed to the ground.
Kang Jo advanced slowly.
The stallion scrambled to its feet, trembling, and hastily backed away.
Low, whimpering neighs spilled from its muzzle.
Then, as though it had never shown such vicious intent, it hung its head in submission.
“Master or beast—they all respond to the same language: discipline.”
Yang Jung, watching from the side, flinched at the sight.
He let out a nervous laugh.
“I’ll remember that. I obey without the need for punishment, I assure you.”
“Keep quiet, fool,” Kang Jo muttered.
And so another morning at the Inn had begun.

*

After finishing his morning meal, Shin Pung-gae ambled through the Martial Alliance grounds.
Now that his business was done, he meant to find his disciple.
‘Where could the boy be?’
As he made his way toward the dormitories of the Successor Generation, he caught sight of young Talented Youths engaged in martial training.
Shin Pung-gae paused, watching the sight with a pleased expression.
‘Those were the days.’
He, too, had once been young like that.
Then, he had believed youth eternal—but when he turned to look back, he had already become old.
“He’s not here, it seems.”
There were many handsome Successor Generation members about.
But the Talented Youth he sought was not among them.
Moving further inward, Baek Won-young came into view.
Baek Won-young was also refining his martial prowess alongside the other Talented Youths.
Shin Pung-gae surveyed the faces of roughly fifty Talented Youths gathered there.
‘So these must be the Jam Ryong-hoe.’
The Alliance Lord appeared to have chosen outstanding Successor Generation members to form this new, formidable organization.
As he examined the young faces, his brow furrowed slightly.
‘He must be here somewhere.’
Two days ago, that Successor Generation’s Lightweight Skill had been genuinely extraordinary.
It was comparable to his own, and he counted among Kangho’s finest practitioners of the art—a truly formidable master of movement.
There was no way someone with such mastery wasn’t a Successor Generation of Jam Ryong-hoe.
Shin Pung-gae scanned the faces of the Successor Generations with eyes bulging wide.
Yet nowhere did he find the youth who might become his disciple.
“Have you emerged, Master?”
Baek Won-young approached at precisely that moment and offered a respectful greeting.
“You’ve worked hard.”
Shin Pung-gae nodded and accepted his bow.
“Who were you hoping to meet?”
“Ah… I’ve been searching for a Talented Youth, but no matter how thoroughly I look, he simply isn’t here.”
“If you’d tell me his name, I could search for him.”
If he’d known the name or family, he wouldn’t have gone to such trouble.
He’d have marched straight to their gate and demanded the brat be handed over.
“I don’t know his name or family, but the boy’s face is strikingly handsome—so beautiful that even if Song Ok or Ban An were reborn, they’d weep at the sight. That’s the caliber of beauty we’re talking about.”
Baek Won-young fell silent in thought.
‘A man so handsome that even Song Ok or Ban An would weep…’
There were many handsome youths among the Successor Generations.
But none matched the description of Gae Bang’s master.
‘Could it be…?’
He recalled the young man he’d seen at the inn.
That youth was indeed so strikingly beautiful that even Song Ok or Ban An reborn would weep.
“May I ask your reason for seeking this Talented Youth?”
Hehehehe…
At his question, Shin Pung-gae burst into laughter.
The mere thought of taking that magnificent fellow as his disciple filled him with such joy that the laughter simply erupted.
“To make him the successor to Gae Bang.”
Mm…
Baek Won-young swallowed hard in silence.
Years ago, when he was still young, Shin Pung-gae had come seeking him out to make him Gae Bang’s successor.
His father had opposed so fiercely that the plan had never come to pass.
“It appears that the Talented Youth you seek is not among those here, Master.”
“That can’t be right. He said he was definitely at the Martial Alliance.”
Shin Pung-gae’s heart sank.
Could the boy have lied to him?
“Perhaps it would be wise to search a bit longer, Master.”
“Have you ever seen anyone in this Martial Alliance more handsome than yourself? Or heard rumors of such a man?”
Ha ha…
Baek Won-young laughed brightly.
“There are easily over a hundred young men in this Martial Alliance more handsome than I, Master.”
His answer was both gracious and humble.
Under ordinary circumstances, Shin Pung-gae would have accepted such a response with satisfaction.
But now his frustration felt ready to burst.
Sigh…
As he drew a long breath, Baek Won-young spoke in a subtle tone.
“Did you dine well last night?”
Had he eaten at that inn, he would certainly have encountered the reincarnation of Song Ok or Ban An.
Hmm…
“As you say… the meal was quite delicious. This old man will search a bit more, so if you think of anyone, come straight to me with word.”
Awkwardly accepting the response, Shin Pung-gae pivoted his Body Technique and departed swiftly.
‘It seems he didn’t manage to eat after all…’
Baek Won-young watched his retreating figure quietly.
*

“What business brings you to this place, Master?”
Baek Ha-young approached with a pretty smile.
“He’s searching for the most handsome man under heaven, I hear.”
“The most handsome man under heaven is my brother.”
For her, the most handsome man under heaven was none other than her brother Baek Won-young.
So other men simply didn’t register in her eyes.
“There are plenty of handsome men in this world, so why do people say such things about someone like me?”
“It’s not overdoing it, brother. I’ve never seen a man finer than you in all my years.”
Baek Won-young put on a stern expression.
“Don’t say such things in front of others, or people will think you’ve lost your senses.”
Hehe……
She laughed and nodded.
“I know. But there’s no man in this world finer than you, brother.”
“You keep saying that. And don’t even dream of going to that inn in the forest and causing trouble.”
Baek Ha-young’s face, which had been radiant with smiles, turned cold in an instant.
“A con artist like that deserves to disappear for the sake of the world.”
At her words, Baek Won-young’s expression grew heavy.
“Have you ever tasted the food at that place? When I ate there myself, I felt that even a silver coin was inadequate payment. If you go there and cause trouble, I won’t see you again.”
As he spoke with force, she bowed her head deeply.
But it wasn’t because she accepted his words.
‘If some noodles are that delicious, how much does it matter? Why do I have to listen to this?’
Baek Won-young relaxed his stern face and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Would you refuse even this older brother’s request?”
“No. I’ll do as you say, brother.”

*

“Kang Jo. Yesterday I saw a large fresh grave in the forest. What’s that about?”
Kang Jo answered offhandedly while trimming vegetables.
“Some lunatics attacked this place at night and I had to kill them all.”
“Wait—you mean some madmen actually dared to attack this place?”
Yang Jung asked in astonishment.
Having traveled with his father several times, he knew well how formidable Kang Jo was.
By his estimation, there were few masters in Kangho who could match his older brother.
“They seemed to be trying to assault the Martial Alliance, but since they wanted to kill me too, I had no choice but to kill them all.”
“Those fellows really had terrible luck. To run into you before they even reached the Martial Alliance.”
Sigh……
Kang Jo even let out a heavy sigh.
“Seems I picked the wrong location.”
Everywhere else was grassland or rice paddies, but only this place was forest.
So it was only natural that those attacking the Martial Alliance would pass through this forest.
“Kang Jo. Since that’s the case, why don’t you close the inn and come with me to the trading post? I’ll serve you all my life. I have a very pretty younger sister among my relatives, and if you were to take her as your………”
Yang Jung chattered on ceaselessly at the table.
At this, Kang Jo, who had been trimming vegetables, stopped his hands and glared at him.
“Stop your babbling and go repair the stable.”
“How can I repair the stable by myself?”
“There’s a half-collapsed stable inside the compound.”
“I’ll just ride around the forest on horseback.”
Finally losing his patience, Kang Jo left the kitchen.
Whoosh…………
In that instant, the quick-witted Yang Jung immediately activated his Body Technique.
His movement carried him past the manor and over the walls in the blink of an eye.
Whoosh…………..
This time, Kang Jo didn’t give up.
Yang Jung’s Body Technique whisked him over the walls and into the forest.
Having emerged from the forest, he cut across the grassland.
Whoosh………….
Running through the grass, he looked like an arrow shot from a bow.
Yang Jung, fleeing ahead, glanced back slightly.
Behind him, his brother was closing the distance at tremendous speed.
‘Oh no…’
Startled, he lightly launched his body into the air.
Tap…
The moment his feet touched the grass, Yang Jung’s Body Technique carried him away like a ray of light.
Kang Jo pursued him, feet brushing against the grass.
“Just let yourself be caught. You’ll die right there on the spot.”

*

“Is the proprietor in?”
Ak Hwan, visiting the Inn after a long absence, glanced around the empty space.
But the establishment stood desolate, not a soul in sight.
‘I came back for the taste of that pork noodle dish, and now the owner’s gone.’
He sat in a chair for a while, waiting, but the proprietor did not appear.
“I’ll have to come back in the evening.”
Rising to his feet, he climbed over the crumbling wall.
But the leader of the Gae Bang was crossing the Stone Bridge toward him.
“Master, I bow before you.”
Ak Hwan clasped his hands respectfully and bent at the waist.
Shin Pung-gae noted the Long Spear wedged at his side and nodded slowly.
“A member of the Ak Clan, then.”
“Yes. I am Ak Hwan.”
“Did you dine here?”
“The proprietor was away, so I was departing.”
A long, weary sigh escaped him.
Shin Pung-gae exhaled in resignation.
No matter how many times a door was shut in your face, if you came back every day and persisted, eventually the other person surrendered.
It was a lesson learned from his childhood, spent begging in the streets.
There was a house that had turned him away when he was young; he’d returned every day until, at last, they gave him rice.
“I’ve never seen a fellow as stubborn as you. Don’t come back here again.”
Those were the words of the master who had finally given him the meal.
But now the proprietor was absent, so there was no one to persist with.
“Is the food here truly so delicious?”
Ak Hwan answered Shin Pung-gae’s question.
“I have never tasted pork noodles so fine. Had the price not been so dear, I would dine here every day, Master.”
He swallowed hard.
“To that degree… you say it’s delicious?”
Shin Pung-gae asked, his own throat tightening.
“Yes. The pork was tender yet firm, the noodles springy as though alive. And the broth—rich and deep, yet clean on the palate.”
“You describe it well indeed. Your name is Ak Hwan?”
“Yes. The second son of the Ak Clan of Shandong.”
He made a low sound in his throat.
Shin Pung-gae examined Ak Hwan carefully from every angle.
‘A faint aura flows from him—the boy shows real promise. Yet for a successor… he’s short, and rather plain-faced. A pity, a true pity.’

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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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