Moorim Pochang - Chapter 22

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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 22. Surging Killing Intent (1).

“You taught yourself, then?”
“I think my anger toward my master seeped into the cooking.”
Baek Won-young interpreted those words differently.
‘So his master was excessively strict with him during his training.’
Suddenly he wanted to know the young man’s name.
The proprietor of this inn was no martial artist.
Yet he found himself wanting to know him better, to set aside the separate worlds they each inhabited.
“I realize I’ve never even asked your name. I’m Baek Won-young.”
Baek Won-young offered his own name first.
Gang Jo then offered his in return.
“Gang Jo.”
Once Baek Won-young had revealed his name, both Yeon Ja-seol and Baek Ha-young found themselves compelled to do the same.
“I’m Yeon Ja-seol.”
“Baek Ha-young. Baek Won-young is my older brother.”
Even as Baek Ha-young introduced herself, her heart was not light.
She was the young lady of the Moorim Alliance’s lord, while he was merely an innkeeper.
Impressive cooking skill or not, they inhabited different worlds and held different stations.
‘Impertinent woman. Her brother is perfectly civil, but what’s wrong with her?’
Gang Jo noticed the look in her eyes.
But he made no show of it.
“It’s been a pleasure to meet you.”
Baek Won-young watched the exchange with quiet contentment.
He too had sensed his younger sister’s true feelings.
But this man called Gang Jo was handling it effortlessly, letting it pass without remark.
“It’s been truly enjoyable. I hope to visit again soon.”
Ha ha……
“Of course. Please do.”
“When I return next time, would it be all right if I brought a horse?”
“We only have a mare now. The stallion left with my younger brother.”
At Gang Jo’s answer, he felt a sudden inward jolt.
‘Oh. So my younger brother took the horse. But I need the mare to be bred again……’
Ha ha……
Baek Won-young masked his bewilderment behind laughter.
“When will your younger brother return?”
“Within ten days, I should think.”
“I see……”

*

“You don’t really care for riding horses, do you, older brother?”
Baek Ha-young asked as they made their way back to the Moorim Alliance.
Her older brother could ride well enough.
But he far preferred traveling by Lightness Martial Art to mounted travel.
“Don’t ask any further about such things.”
Baek Won-young refused to explain his reasons.
How could he possibly discuss breeding matters with his younger sister, no matter how close they were?
Yet Yeon Ja-seol was just as curious.
Her martial skill was not her only asset.
‘Older brother didn’t stop laughing the whole time at that inn. It must be because of Gang Jo and his cooking rather than the inn itself.’
She had never seen this man before today.
She hadn’t expected someone she’d never met to possess such extraordinary culinary skill, nor such infectious good humor.
Though he was no martial artist, he seemed quite remarkable.
“Older brother seems very taken with Gang Jo.”
Ha ha ha ha……!
Her intuition had proven correct, and Baek Won-young laughed brightly.
“Just as I thought—you’re perceptive as always. Once we grow a bit closer, I’m thinking of forming a sworn brotherhood with him.”
“Brother…!”
At his words, Baek Ha-young let out a sharp cry.
“Brother. That man is a cook. How could you possibly form a sworn brotherhood with an innkeeper?”
The warmth that had begun to thaw in her heart at his culinary skill froze over once more.
This man Gang Jo and her brother were separated by the breadth of heaven and earth.
Her brother was a man who dwelt in the sky, while that man walked the ground.
With such a gulf between them, how could he speak of sworn brotherhood?
But Baek Won-young’s mind ran differently.
“When one person values another, why should station matter? Besides, I don’t see the innkeeper as beneath me.”
“If you keep this up, I’ll tell Father.”
“Do as you wish. But I suspect Father won’t have much to say about it either.”
Hmph……
Thoroughly sulking, Baek Ha-young dashed off toward the Moorim Alliance.
Sigh……
Baek Won-young watched her retreating figure and exhaled a long breath.
‘The girl has no sense. This will cause trouble.’

*

Four days had already passed since Yang Jung returned home.
‘With this brat gone, I’m finding things a bit inconvenient.’
When he’d been at the inn, all he’d done was cause trouble, yet his absence left a surprisingly large void.
“I’ll take three pounds of pork, if you please.”
Gang Jo, who had stopped by the butcher shop, placed his order.
The shopkeeper smiled as he sliced the meat.
“I hear a rumor that you charge a whole silver coin for a single bowl of noodles. Is that true?”
“It is.”
Gang Jo kept his outward composure, but inwardly he ground his teeth.
‘Damn those fools. If they got a free meal, the least they could do is spread decent rumors about it.’
The gossip had likely spread through the mouths of village girls who’d come calling before.
Ha……
“What makes it so delicious that you charge a whole silver coin? But no matter how fine the noodles, few people would be willing to pay that much per bowl.”
“I know.”
The butcher tied the sliced pork together with twine and handed it over.
“That’ll be two coppers.”
As Gang Jo reached for his money pouch, the village women hesitated forward.
“Um… where has Master Yang gone?”
‘Master? What nonsense.’
Gang Jo turned to face the women.
They stood with their hands clasped together, expressions earnest and pleading.
“Sam-ryong went back home.”
At this answer, the women froze in shock.
“H-home? You mean… he won’t be coming here anymore?”
“When will Master come back?”
Gang Jo looked at them with eyes full of disdain.
‘If my daughter ever carries on like this, I’ll die of apoplexy.’
“He’ll return soon.”
The women’s faces, which had seemed moments away from tears, suddenly lit up.
“When… when will he return?”
“Will he be back in a few days?”
Gang Jo had no desire to engage with them further and turned away.
“I don’t know myself.”
Behind him came sighs from the women.
“If only Master would return soon…”
The sighs quickly turned into argument.
“I miss Master more than you do.”
“I knew Master before you did.”
“No… you wench…!”
“What? This woman? Is she trying to get herself killed……?”
Gang Jo paid them no mind and moved on.
‘Soon enough, those two will be dancing with blades.’

*

The sun had set, and darkness fell upon the world.
Gang Jo gazed blankly at the empty tables of the Inn.
As the night deepened, the sound of travelers on the main road faded away.
‘No customers again today.’
With no guests to serve, the leftover ingredients were all his.
Tap! Tap…!
Gang Jo worked the dough against the cutting board, drawing out noodles.
‘Lonesome. So lonesome.’
Just as the pork noodle dish was nearing completion, he felt it—an ominous presence.
“These wretches……”
Gang Jo’s hand shot toward the Black Sword propped in the corner of the kitchen.
Whistle……
The moment the blade leapt into his grip, he was already moving out of the kitchen.
As he stepped into the ruined Abandoned Mansion, he sensed them everywhere in the darkness.
“I told you not to climb that wall……”
Gang Jo’s voice came soft and low, a warning toward the disturbance.
From the shadows emerged a man whose face was covered entirely in black tattoos.
“Hyeol-seong warned us not to meddle in our affairs……”
The tattooed man spoke the same words Gang Jo had just uttered.
‘So that woman was Hyeol-seong.’
He did not know what Hyeol-seong was.
But he could feel well enough that these creatures were wicked.
Sniff…
Gang Jo’s nostrils flared.
That vile stench of rot drifted through the air once more.
‘That’s it. The Stench of Rot.’
The putrid odor that rose from decaying flesh.
Gang Jo felt a quiet thrill kindle within him.
Knowing the ground here was cursed, why had he refused to move away?
Perhaps it was because he’d always known something like this would come.
“It is not too late even now. Cross that wall and disappear.”
Even as he spoke, Gang Jo waited for the man to draw his sword.
Keke-keke……
The tattooed man’s face twisted into a sinister grin.
“Do you understand that in this very moment, you have become our enemy?”
Gang Jo’s smile turned cold.
“Abundantly……. Come on, then.”
The instant those words fell, dozens of shadows erupted from the darkness.
Shriek………..! Shriek……!
The shadows loosed horrible, bestial cries.

*

“Yeon Ja-seol. Where are you going?”
A young disciple caught Ja-seol as she was leaving the Moorim Alliance and asked.
She possessed not only striking beauty but impressive height, commanding admiration from many men.
Yet few disciples dared approach her so casually.
Her martial prowess was simply too formidable.
“I have some business in the village.”
At Ja-seol’s reply, the young disciple smiled broadly.
It was rare for anyone to speak with such ease in her presence.
“Night has fallen some time ago. Allow me to accompany you.”
“Your offer is kind, but I must decline.”
She refused with a smile and left the Moorim Alliance behind.
The young disciple clenched his teeth.
Crunch, crunch.
‘How dare she refuse the goodwill of Eon So-ryong? What makes her think she’s so special?’
His family was no less distinguished than any other.
Especially since the Eon clan had earned great renown in the Martial World after destroying Buk Yeom-ra.
Eon So-ryong watched the retreating figure of Yeon Ja-seol as she left the Moorim Alliance.
‘Not only her face, but that body of hers is really something…’

*

After leaving the Moorim Alliance, Yeon Ja-seol quickened her pace.
She could feel Eon So-ryong’s sticky gaze on her back.
But were there so few men like that?
‘I hope I’m not too late.’
She’d lost track of time, absorbed in her martial training.
Yeon Ja-seol was now making her way to Gang Jo’s Inn.
Ever since she’d tasted the food there at her sworn brother’s urging, she couldn’t enjoy the flavor of any other cuisine.
A martial artist ought to practice restraint, but she found herself unable to stop thinking about that taste, and so she’d finally left the Moorim Alliance.
‘What if I’m late?’
Worry spurred her to walk faster.
When she arrived at the forest where the Inn stood, her pace eased slightly.
The lights were still burning brightly, which meant the Inn was open.
After crossing the stone bridge, Yeon Ja-seol climbed over the crumbling wall and stepped inside.
Yet the innkeeper was nowhere to be seen.
“Is anyone here?”
She peered into the kitchen, searching for Gang Jo.
A horrifying shriek tore through the air. Then another.
The terrible cries were coming from deeper within the Abandoned Mansion.
‘What is that?’
Her instincts flared with danger, and she drew her sword.
Then, slowly, she made her way into the depths of the Abandoned Mansion.

*

Slash—crunch.
Gang Jo carved through his enemies, unleashing his Killing Intent freely.
The eyes of those who shrieked were rolled back, showing only whites.
And a foul stench emanated from their bodies.
Crunch.
As the Black Sword tore through space, a forearm flew into the air.
The shrieking continued without pause.
His enemies paid it no mind, their screams undiminished.
With eyes rolled back, they seemed to feel no pain.
Crunch.
Only when a head separated from its body did the corpse finally fall to the ground.
The moment the enemy’s body struck the earth, a jet of dark Sword Energy descended from above.
It was a manifestation of pure martial blade force.
Boom!
The dark Sword Energy collided with the Black Sword, warping the darkness before it exploded outward.
There was more than one stream of dark Sword Energy.
Another blade force carved through his flank.
Boom!
Gang Jo deflected the Sword Energy and executed a Step Technique.
Whoosh.
In an instant, the enemy he’d been facing transformed from front to back.
Slash.
As Gang Jo’s blade cut through space, the enemy’s form scattered like smoke.
These enemies were not as strong as the giant he’d fought before.
Yet with multiple opponents instead of one, they could not be ignored.
Boom, boom, boom! Boom!
Each time the Black Sword and the dark blade clashed, tiles cascaded from the roof of the dilapidated pavilion.
Crunch.
Gang Jo severed his opponent’s neck and staggered backward.
In that instant, a chill of killing intent pierced through from behind.

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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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