Moorim Pochang - Chapter 19

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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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Chapter 19. Dok Go Yeop.

“Brother. Who was that woman from last night?”
Yang Jeong, stirring awake at dawn, asked the question that had been gnawing at him first.
“The master of those men I killed before, I’d wager.”
“Really? But why did you just let her go?”
Kang Jo fixed him with a glare, eyes wide and alert.
“What, you wanted me to die by her hand instead?”
“That’s not what I meant at all, brother. Why do you always misunderstand?”
“She said she’d be back.”
A long, uneasy sigh.
“Really, brother? Oh, it gives me the chills.”
Yang Jeong trembled visibly, as though the woman truly terrified him.
Neigh! Neigh-eigh!
Kang Jo bolted from the room the moment he heard the horse’s cry.
“This damned beast is at it again.”
“At least it was quiet last night, brother.”
When the two reached the backyard, they found the stallion intent on mating.
Neigh! Neigh-eigh!
The mare, apparently finding the whole affair far too vigorous, kept shrieking and backing away.
“Stop while I’m asking nicely.”
Kang Jo released a faint whisper of killing intent.
The stallion’s head snapped around, eyes flashing with fury.
Snort… snort…
But the moment his gaze met Kang Jo’s, whatever rage had possessed him dissolved, and he lowered his head in retreat.
“The owner reads that animal like a book—damned sharp instincts on both of them.”
A soft chuckle.
“Brother, the horse is sharp. Me? I understand nothing at all.”

*

Thunk! Thunk!
Yang Jeong was repairing the stable, hammer in hand.
While he worked, Kang Jo sat in the kitchen trimming medicinal herbs.
He’d gathered them from the forest with the intention of steeping them in alcohol.
He’d given it little thought before, but Mun Sin-nyeo’s words from last night had been nagging at him ever since.
‘Damn it. Still no customers today.’
The sun was already tilting toward the Western Mountain, yet not a single guest had arrived.
The one small mercy was that the beggar old man who’d been so persistently showing up had vanished.
The moment the sun dipped below the horizon, the hammering stopped.
“Brother. Please hurry with dinner. I’m starving.”
Yang Jeong arrived carrying a saw and hammer in each hand.
“Just a moment. It’s almost ready.”
As Kang Jo tended the pot, Yang Jeong plucked up a prepared piece of Japanese spikenard and popped it into his mouth.
Crunch… crunch…
“Why did you gather so many herbs and wild vegetables, brother?”
“To make medicinal alcohol.”
Ah…
“Brother, that’s an excellent idea. Let me make the alcohol.”
Yang Jeong pulled out a liquor jar and made to shove the herbs inside haphazardly.
Kang Jo snatched the herbs away just in time.
“Why stop me when I’m trying to do something worthwhile, brother?”
“Done that way, it’ll never sell.”
Kang Jo worked the herbs with both hands, pressing and crushing them.
The plants broke down, their juices beginning to run.
Once he’d extracted all the essence, he placed the crushed herbs into the liquor jar and reached for the next batch.
After repeating this process three or four times, the herbs that had been piled high vanished entirely into the liquor jar.
Yang Jeong, who had been watching with bated breath, quickly brought over a ladle and drew out two cups of the liquid.
He tasted it first.
Ah…
“The flavor is quite convincing.”
Kang Jo sampled it as well and nodded in approval.
Because they had added so many fragrant herbs and vegetables, it tasted remarkably similar to medicinal alcohol made with ginseng and mineral water.
“When the Alliance Leader comes looking for medicinal alcohol, this would be perfect to serve him, brother.”
Kang Jo stared at Yang Jeong with a look of disbelief.
This man had a talent for scheming in situations like this.
“That’s fraud, you bastard.”
“What’s the harm? Brother, I’m simply providing medicinal alcohol as the Alliance Leader requested.”
“Stop your nonsense and dish out the rice.”

*

Around noon, five or six young women arrived at the inn.
‘It seems customers are finally starting to gather.’
Kang Jo welcomed them with genuine pleasure.
“Welcome.”
But the women only glanced around nervously, showing no intention of taking a seat.
“Is there something you’re looking for?”
The women answered hesitantly.
“We heard that Three Dragons is staying here…”
“Ah… he’s in the stable fixing the roof right now.”
Before Kang Jo’s words had even finished, Yang Jeong emerged into view.
“So the young ladies have graced us with their presence.”
His voice was clear and resonant.
Yet he could not hide the bruises that covered his face, livid and dark.
The women were so distracted staring at Yang Jeong that they barely noticed anything else.
“The butcher said you were badly wounded…”
Ha-ha-ha…
“I fell from my horse, which is how this happened. Please don’t worry yourselves.”
Kang Jo watched him and the women quietly.
Now it was clear—these women hadn’t come for a meal at all; they’d come to see Three Dragons.
“Since you’ve gone to the trouble of coming, won’t you at least have a meal before you leave?”
The moment Yang Jeong extended the invitation, the women hurried to claim seats at the tables.
“Three Dragons, you seem quite skilled at cooking as well.”
“My brother is actually the better cook. And by the way, my name is Yang Jeong, not Three Dragons.”
The women’s eyes never left Yang Jeong’s face.
“I see, Friend Yang. Then a bowl of noodles for me, please.”
Did these thoughtless women have any idea that a bowl of noodles cost one silver coin?
Kang Jo made sure to state the price before he began cooking.
“One bowl of noodles costs one silver coin.”
At this, the women grew flustered and confused, floundering helplessly.
“What? One silver coin? That’s insane. What makes it so expensive?”
“We don’t have that kind of money…”
As the women faltered, Yang Jeong offered them a soft smile.
“You’ve traveled so far to find us—how could I possibly accept payment? Today is my treat.”
At once, the women’s faces lit up with joy.
“Thank you, Friend Yang.”
“Thank you.”
Yang Jeong turned his head to look at Kang Jo, whose expression had gone blank and distant.
But his face looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment.
‘Brother, please—just cook this one meal for me.’
His plea was earnest.
He couldn’t show these women who had come seeking him any sign of weakness or failure.
Recognizing his desperation, Kang Jo let out a heavy sigh.
Even this man had his pride, so there was no point in staying angry with him.
He sighed deeply…
“Just a moment, please.”
As Kang Jo disappeared into the kitchen, Yang Jeong turned with a subtle smile playing at his lips.
“They say a bowl of pork noodles costs one silver coin, but once you taste it yourself, you’ll find that one silver coin is barely enough.”

*

Kang Jo set a bowl of pork noodles before each of the women.
‘You’re dead.’
He fixed Yang Jeong with a bleak, penetrating stare.
“Please, eat.”
Yang Jeong deliberately avoided his gaze, urging them to begin.
The women exchanged glances before picking up their chopsticks and bringing noodles and meat to their lips.
Slurp…slurp…..
The moment they began chewing, the women’s eyes widened to their fullest extent.
They had never tasted pork noodles so exquisite.
They couldn’t fathom how it was made, but the meat and noodles seemed to dissolve on their tongues, vanishing like mist.
They crammed the noodles into their mouths without restraint.
Slurp…slurp….
They ate so ravenously that they forgot Yang Jeong was sitting beside them.
Only after draining every drop of broth did they finally come to their senses.
“I… just as you said, it’s truly delicious, Yang Jeong… or rather, Friend Yang.”
Ha ha ha…..
“Thank you.”
Yang Jeong beamed as though he himself had prepared the dish.
The women’s eyes darted toward the kitchen—they wanted more.
But the words wouldn’t leave their lips.
One silver coin was simply too large a sum.
Yang Jeong sensed their longing but deliberately looked away.
“In any case, I’m grateful you made the effort to visit.”
The women forced their reluctant bodies upright.
“W-we’ll come see you again, Friend Yang.”
“Please take care of yourself, Friend Yang.”
Ha ha…..
“Thank you both. Mind yourselves on the way.”
They crossed the Stone Bridge, turning back several times to look at him.
Yang Jeong waved until they disappeared entirely from sight.
But the moment they vanished, he spun around and dropped to his knees.
“Brother, I’m sorry.”
“You want to die? I told you to bring paying customers, and you bring freeloaders?”
Kang Jo clenched his fists, his voice sharp with fury.
Yang Jeong quickly pulled a money pouch from his breast.
“I’ll cover the cost of the meal myself, Brother.”
“That’s not the damn problem, you fool! What happens if women like that keep coming around?”
“It won’t happen again. Please, just this once, forgive me, Brother.”
Kang Jo’s clenched fists relaxed at the pleading in Yang Jeong’s voice.
“If anything like this happens again, I swear you’re finished.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Brother.”

*

“So you’re here today.”
Ak Hwan entered the inn with a bright smile.
Kang Jo rose from his meal to greet him.
“Welcome, Friend Ak.”
Yang Jeong remained seated at the table, absorbed in his food despite the arrival of a guest.
Ak Hwan paid him no mind and took his seat.
“Can I have the pork noodles?”
“Of course. I’ll bring them right away.”
Kang Jo entered the kitchen and began working the dough, pulling out fresh noodles.
Thwack…! Thwack…..!
Ak Hwan, finding nothing else to occupy his attention, found himself studying Yang Jeong instead.
Bruises mottled his face so thoroughly that recognition was impossible, but upon closer inspection, the features beneath were strikingly handsome.
‘A guest at the inn?’
Interest kindled in him, and without thinking, he opened his mouth to speak.
“Have you come as a guest?”
But Yang Jeong showed little interest in male patrons.
“Ah… yes. I’m the proprietor’s younger brother.”
“You mean you’re the younger brother of Kang Jo?”
“Yes.”
‘So the inn is run by brothers. Both of them so handsome—whoever their parents are, they’ve been blessed with fortune.’ He envied their beauty; his own face was unremarkable, plain as water.
The Pork Noodles arrived just then, and Ak Hwan withdrew his attention.

The figure would manifest, disappear in an instant, then reappear twenty zhang further on, the pattern repeating endlessly.
‘Nearly there.’
As the forest emerged from the darkness ahead, Shin Hyung halted his Qinggong and continued on foot at an easy pace.
The medicinal alcohol’s effects had been truly remarkable.
Five cups had sustained him like a beast for two days.
Dok Go Yeop tapped lightly against his chest where the money pouch lay hidden.
Today he’d brought twenty silver coins—no small sum.
He intended to purchase twenty more cups of medicinal alcohol with it.
‘Had I known the medicinal alcohol was so effective, I wouldn’t have split five cups with Baek Mun-do back then.’
They’d each drunk five cups, splitting ten thousand silver coins between them.
Now, looking back, what a waste that seemed.
As Dok Go Yeop entered the inn, Kang Jo came out to greet him.
“Welcome.”
Dok Go Yeop nodded and glanced around the common room.
Two young men were eating, but from how they sat, they didn’t appear to be traveling together.
He chose a seat nearest the kitchen and settled himself.
“Pork Noodles and medicinal alcohol.”
Kang Jo took the order with some reluctance.
This middle-aged man, whose features were almost unnaturally handsome as a woman’s, was the same guest who had visited with the Alliance Leader before.
But his disposition was sharp, and something about him felt unsettling.
More than anything, Kang Jo resented having sold such precious alcohol for merely ten thousand silver coins.
From the kitchen, Kang Jo emerged with vegetables and strong spirits.
Pour—splash.
Dok Go Yeop filled his cup and turned to observe the man eating Pork Noodles.
“Are you with the Martial Alliance?”
Ak Hwan, mid-meal, lifted his head and looked at him.
But the moment his eyes met that gaze, his entire body began to tremble strangely.
Shudder—tremble.
What he felt was terror.
The prey’s overwhelming fear when facing a predator seized his entire being.
Unable to overcome the dread, he reached for the spear he’d leaned against the table.
At that, Dok Go Yeop smiled coldly.
“You’ve got nerve.”

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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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