Moorim Pochang - Chapter 21

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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 21. A Strange Encounter.

Baek Mun-do greeted the morning looking haggard.
The explosive force that had been roiling inside him like a volcano had not burst forth.
Before, his energy had been so overwhelming that he couldn’t sleep at all, but last night he had fallen into a deep slumber instead.
‘I’ve been fooled. Those bastards got the better of me.’
The taste of the liquor had seemed slightly off at the time, and what he’d drunk yesterday wasn’t the drink he thought it was.
Heh…
“Those reckless fools.”
A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
Those wretches had brazenly presented him with common Herbal Wine while making off with a precious Secret Technique.
And yet, because the Alliance Lord had been deceived through his own negligence, he couldn’t very well demand they return the Secret Technique.
“Did you cough just now, Father?”
At his son’s greeting, he quickly shook off his brooding thoughts.
The longer one held such matters in one’s heart, the more it would eat away at you.
“Ah yes. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes. Yeon Ja-seol just returned a moment ago.”
Ah, so that’s it…
“So that girl has come back.”
Baek Mun-do was deeply pleased.
Yeon Ja-seol was one of his two most recent disciples, along with Mo Yong-se.
The disciple had gone back to the Home Sect, saying she needed to refine her martial arts alone, and it seemed she had finally returned.
Besides her, there was the other disciple, Mo Yong-se, who had returned to the Home Sect due to urgent business.
“She will come to pay her respects shortly.”
“Very well. From now on, make sure you look after that girl properly.”
“Don’t worry, Father.”

*

As evening fell, Baek Won-young deliberately sought out Yeon Ja-seol.
She was absorbed in martial training, looking just as she had before returning to the Home Sect.
Whoosh… whisk…
Sharp sword light flashed across the Training Ground, where her afterimages filled the air.
‘She’s improved considerably.’
He stood to one side, quietly observing her practice.
Swirl…
The countless afterimages merged into one, and once Yeon Ja-seol sheathed her blade, she turned her body and bowed her head.
“You’re here, Senior Brother?”
A clear, ringing voice spilled from her lips.
“Your Sword Shadow will soon pierce the heavens.”
“It’s still far from yours, Senior Brother.”
Hahaha…
“What are you saying? The difference between us is thinner than paper.”
In the Jianghu, a difference of paper’s thickness determined life and death—it was the difference between heaven and earth.
Knowing this, Yeon Ja-seol could not laugh as easily as Baek Won-young.
“Let’s go outside. I know an excellent restaurant I’d like to show you.”
“The Murim Alliance’s food is quite delicious.”
As she said, the food at the Murim Alliance was indeed excellent.
There were many disciples from prestigious families and many guests who came to visit.
The cooks working at the Murim Alliance were skilled above the level of an ordinary Forest Inn.
More than anything, she did not trust the world’s reputation.
And she had no desire to go out of her way searching for Forest Inns or restaurants with good cooking.
“Once you’ve tasted the food at that Forest Inn, you won’t want to eat at the Murim Alliance anymore.”
“Will you treat me, Senior Brother?”
Hahaha…
“Of course I will.”
Baek Won-young offered a laugh that appeared refreshing even to outsiders.
Yeon Ja-seol sensed something subtly amiss in that laughter.
Her senior brother had always been mild-mannered, yet he’d never smiled quite so radiantly before.
The smile he showed others was merely a mask—that of a solitary man.
And so she’d always felt an invisible wall between them.
‘What could have changed him like this?’

*

As dusk began to settle, Baek Won-young and Yeon Ja-seol left the Murim Alliance.
But then Baek Ha-young suddenly wedged herself between them.
“Where are the two of you going?”
Her face was full of smiles, yet her eyes held a peculiar chill.
“My junior sister has returned after a year away—shouldn’t we hold a celebration?”
“Then may I join you as well?”
Baek Won-young readily agreed.
“Of course. Why would you ask?”
The more people at a celebration, the better it would be.
Ja-seol smiled as well.
“Your brother promised to treat us to something delicious, so come with us.”
“Is that truly so? Brother?”
Baek Ha-young linked her arm through his with evident delight.
Even though Yeon Ja-seol was technically her junior sister, she disliked the thought of her brother being alone with her.
More than that—she resented any woman drawing close to him.
“It seems I won’t be riding a horse tonight.”
“What do you mean, brother?”
Ha-ha-ha…!
“It’s nothing.”
As Baek Won-young walked, he broke into hearty laughter.
He’d been reminded of something that had happened at the Forest Inn not long ago.
The man walking ahead suddenly turned his steps toward the forest.
Baek Ha-young stopped in surprise.
“Could the place you spoke of be here?”
Her face was filled with displeasure.
Ja-seol halted as well, recalling the young man’s face she’d seen that morning.
‘Is he the proprietor of the Forest Inn? He seems far too young for an innkeeper.’
While she was thinking this, Baek Won-young stepped forward and entered first.
“Once you’ve dined here, the Murim Alliance’s fare will no longer satisfy your palate.”
As he led the way inside, Baek Ha-young reluctantly followed.
Ja-seol gathered her steps and crossed the stone bridge.

*

“Welcome back.”
Baek Won-young felt his spirits lift even before stepping into the Forest Inn.
Indeed, whenever he recalled this place from the Murim Alliance, his mood inexplicably brightened.
“Do come in.”
Gang Jo received his guest with genuine warmth.
Among all who visited the Forest Inn, this handsome young man was the only one he greeted so gladly.
Raising his gaze, Gang Jo surveyed the women following behind.
The moment he caught sight of the frowning woman’s face, his own expression twisted.
‘That arrogant wretch.’
Noticing this, Baek Won-young quickly stepped forward.
“This is my younger sister. I believe she may have caused some trouble here before—I ask your forgiveness on her behalf. Please accept my sincere apology.”
His humility forced Gang Jo to smooth away his displeasure.
“Not at all. Please, come in.”
“Now go and apologize yourself.”
At her brother’s urging, Baek Ha-young reluctantly bowed her head.
Had her brother not been standing beside her, she would never have lowered it at all.
“I apologize—I spoke harshly to you before.”
As she reluctantly bowed her head, Baek Won-young smiled and introduced Yeon Ja-seol.
“This is my junior sister.”
“Welcome.”
Gang Jo and Yeon Ja-seol bowed simultaneously, then found themselves face to face.
The moment their eyes met, Yeon Ja-seol felt something similar to what Baek Won-young had sensed.
‘His eyes run deep and clear.’
Such a man was rare even in the Murim Alliance.
Most eyes were clouded by selfish desires and greed.
“Please, be seated.”
When Gang Jo offered a seat, Baek Won-young walked over to a log chair without hesitation and sat.
Yeon Ja-seol and Baek Ha-young also took their places at the table.
“But where is your younger brother, the most handsome man under heaven?”
Baek Won-young inquired about Yang Jeong.
“Ah… Yang Jeong had business and went to the Home Sect.”
“So your brother’s name is Yang Jeong. What a shame for you—you could have seen the most handsome man under heaven.”
In response to Gang Jo’s words, he turned to Baek Ha-young with a smile.
Baek Ha-young’s eyes widened with interest.
“There’s someone more handsome than you, brother?”
Ha-ha-ha!
Having let out a hearty laugh, his expression turned meaningful.
“When you see that person’s face, you’ll be quite astonished, I think.”
Baek Ha-young found her brother’s words hard to believe.
Yet the way he spoke so confidently suggested that the innkeeper’s younger brother must be extraordinarily handsome.
‘But he probably doesn’t even know martial arts, so what does it matter.’
While she entertained this thought, Gang Jo opened his mouth to ask.
“We have chicken noodles today—will that suit you?”
Baek Won-young ordered without ceremony.
“Yes, three bowls of chicken noodles, and bring us wine as well.”

*

Gang Jo first brought several seasoned vegetable side dishes and wine to the table.
The wine was not harsh and strong, but medicinal alcohol pressed from herbal extracts.
The moment the side dishes appeared, Baek Won-young quickly picked up his chopsticks.
“Come, let Ja-seol and Ha-young taste it. I think you’ll be quite surprised.”
At his urging, they too picked up their chopsticks.
The prepared dishes didn’t look particularly appetizing.
But the instant it touched their lips, a refreshing fragrance filled their mouths.
“This is truly… delicious.”
Yeon Ja-seol looked toward Gang Jo in the kitchen with a surprised expression.
This unfamiliar dish carried a clean, light freshness without any greasiness.
Baek Ha-young also seemed taken with the side dishes, continuing to move her chopsticks steadily.
‘Brother was right—it really is delicious.’
Baek Won-young watched them with a smile, then poured wine into his cup.
“Drink it slowly—it’s strong liquor.”
The only weakness of this inn was that the wine didn’t match the quality of the food.
He raised the cup and took a sip first.
But the taste was not what he’d experienced last time.
Ahhh…
‘The wine tastes… good too.’
Yeon Ja-seol and Baek Ha-young also emptied their cups.
Hmm…
The wine was strong as he’d warned, but its flavor was quite pleasant, contrary to his words.
“The wine tastes good too?”
Ha-ha-ha!
At Baek Ha-young’s exclamation, Baek Won-young broke into a satisfied laugh.
His own mood brightened at her praise.
He turned his gaze toward the open forest beyond.
“Isn’t it truly refreshing and pleasant?”
Just as he said, this place was open and clear, free from any stuffiness.
But there was a drawback.
“Yes, it’s as cool as you said it would be. The trouble is all the mosquitoes by the stream.”
Upon hearing Ja-seol’s complaint, Gang Jo stepped outside and returned with a mugwort bundle, lighting it aflame.
When he’d lived with his master in the past, they’d used this same method on nights thick with mosquitoes.
As the smoke curled upward, the scent of mugwort drifted through the Forest Inn.
‘The smell is lovely too.’
At the subtle aroma, a smile bloomed unbidden across Baek Won-young’s lips.
Sitting here, strangely, his heart found peace.
As a child, playing alone one afternoon, he’d hollowed out a small earthen burrow.
From inside that cramped space, the world beyond had seemed impossibly narrow.
Yet that cramped little burrow had been so comfortable, so perfect.

*

“The Chicken Noodles are ready.”
Gang Jo set three bowls of Chicken Noodles on the table.
The moment the dish arrived, Baek Won-young’s speech became uncharacteristically faltering.
“I… will stake my life that one bowl won’t be enough.”
His eyes gleamed bright as he eagerly grasped meat and noodles with his chopsticks.
Slurp… slurp…
Without concern for propriety, he shoveled the food into his mouth with abandon.
Ja-seol and Ha-young watched him in bewilderment.
In all the time they’d spent together, they’d never seen him like this.
‘Just how delicious can noodles be…?’
They too picked up meat and noodles with their chopsticks and brought them to their mouths.
In almost the same instant, surprise registered on both their faces.
‘How is it… that chicken and noodles produce such a flavor?’
Slurp…
Ja-seol and Ha-young began eating ravenously, forgetting themselves entirely.
Gang Jo observed them with quiet satisfaction.
‘That handsome guest truly is a fine customer.’
Ak-hwan, the proprietor, had not brought in other guests despite serving precious fine liquor to her first visitor.
But this handsome man had already brought two people as customers.
From Gang Jo’s perspective, there was no finer guest to be found.
“One more bowl, please.”
After polishing off his first bowl, Baek Won-young held out the empty dish.
At the same moment, Ja-seol and Ha-young were finishing theirs as well.
“I’d like another bowl too…”
“So would I.”

*
Baek Won-young emptied three bowls of Chicken Noodles, while Ja-seol and Ha-young each finished two.
Once their bellies were sufficiently full, they slowly raised their wine cups.
Ha-ha-ha-ha…!
Each time he spoke, Baek Won-young’s laughter rang out loud and clear.
The women found his manner unfamiliar.
Yet it wasn’t unpleasant.
In fact, it was delightful.
“But who taught you to cook like this?”
Baek Won-young turned to Gang Jo with a smile.
“I came to it through my own understanding.”
Gang Jo answered without hesitation.
In truth, he hadn’t sought to understand it at all.
His master back then had been ruthlessly strict.
“Did I not tell you to extinguish your killing intent? Will you truly go on living like a beast possessed only of instinct?”
His master’s stern reproaches had kindled his anger.
So each time he cooked, his Internal Energy would flow out unbidden.
Yet his master had praised those dishes as quite skillful.

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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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