Moorim Pochang - Chapter 24

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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 24. Face to Face.

“I’m here, brother.”
Yang Jeong stepped into the Inn with a bright face.
In his hand was a large bundle.
“You’re early. What’s that bundle?”
Gang Jo greeted him with indifference.
Heh-heh…
“Mother packed food for us, brother.”
But Yang Jeong paid no mind and unfolded the bundle with evident delight.
Inside were rice cakes, fried meat, fruits—an abundance of provisions.
“Fine by me. I can’t be bothered cooking, so let’s make lunch of this.”
Yang Jeong immediately objected.
“I rode over a thousand li without rest because I wanted to eat your cooking, and this is what you say to me?”
“We don’t have guests anyway. Just eat this for now. I’ll cook dinner for you.”
“Brother, eat all of this yourself. But I want your cooking.”
“This damned kid…”
Gang Jo was exasperated, but Yang Jeong didn’t care one bit.
“Brother, please cook for me. I wanted your food so much I couldn’t even sleep properly.”
At his pleading, Gang Jo began cooking with an air of resignation.
Sigh…
“Troublesome brat.”
Heh-heh…
“Thank you, brother. Truly, there’s no one but you for me.”
Yang Jeong smiled brightly.
While Gang Jo cooked, Yang Jeong settled himself near the kitchen and began to chatter.
“Father loved that Martial Secret Manual so much. Every time I left, he said I should just live outside since I only brought back technical manuals.”
“Lucky you, damn brat.”
“But that’s a real problem too. Next time I need to bring something even more valuable, don’t I? So I’ve been thinking—what if next time I brought a Precious Sword or a sword like that instead…?”
As he prattled on without pause, Gang Jo’s irritation began to rise.
When this one was away, it was dull; when he was near, it was nothing but noise and anger.
“Go to the room.”
“Why the room?”
“There’s a sword there.”
At Gang Jo’s words, Yang Jeong sprang to his feet.
“Right, there was already a sword.”
He burst into the room and rushed back out with an astonished expression.
“Brother! There’s an enormous pile of weapons in there!”
It made sense.
They’d buried the corpses of the intruders, but collected all their weapons.
“They came again.”
Ah…
Yang Jeong wasn’t even surprised.
If they wanted to die, why not just die? Why seek out his brother?
“So that’s why there are so many weapons. I’ll take a few when I head home next time.”
“Before that, finish fixing the stable.”
Heh-heh…
“I’m tired today, so I’ll rest and start tomorrow.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Start today.”

*

“A man on horseback—the most handsome under heaven—didn’t he enter the Murim Alliance?”
Sin Pung-gae seized the guards at the main gate of the Murim Alliance and questioned them.
The guards shook their heads.
“My lord, aside from a merchant caravan leading horses through just now, we have not seen the most handsome man under heaven.”
“How could that be?”
Sin Pung-gae knew about the merchant convoy well enough.
Not long after leaving the Murim Alliance, they had encountered dozens of carts on the road.
“Among the merchants, there was no man who could be called the most beautiful under heaven.”
“I know that too. The one I seek came alone on horseback.”
The martial artists shook their heads again.
“No such person appeared, Master.
Sin Pung-gae’s face filled with doubt.
Had the bastard soared into the heavens? Or had he vanished into the earth?
‘Wait—wasn’t there an inn along the way?’
He wheeled his horse around abruptly and galloped toward the inn.
Whoosh———
The martial artists watched him recede into the distance, deploying Light Kungfu, their eyes bewildered.

*

Upon reaching the forest edge, Sin Pung-gae crossed the Stone Bridge in haste.
“Delicious indeed, brother. Your cooking skill truly is the finest under heaven.”
As he crossed the bridge, the bright voice of a young man reached his ears.
The moment he vaulted over the courtyard wall, he caught sight of him—the one he sought, seated at a table, dining.
At last———at last he had found him.
Joy swelled in his chest so fiercely he could hardly breathe.
But his joy was not to last long.
“What brings you back again?”
The instant Gang Jo stepped forward to block the way, wind erupted from the inn.
Whoosh————
The moment Sin Pung-gae crossed the courtyard wall, Yang Jeong was already fleeing deeper into the estate.
But this time he would not escape.
Sin Pung-gae pursued, weaving past Gang Jo who stood in his path.
Whoosh—
As he executed a Step Technique to dart sideways, Gang Jo’s face suddenly filled his vision.
Gasp—!
Startled, Sin Pung-gae jolted to a halt.
“So you also possess considerable Light Kungfu.”
His alarm faded, replaced by a level gaze fixed on Gang Jo.
‘Perhaps it was inevitable. The boy called that one “brother” just now, so they must surely be siblings—and siblings of equal skill in Light Kungfu, no doubt———’
Gang Jo said nothing.
Then Sin Pung-gae spoke.
“Which family do you hail from?”
“I have no family.”
“Then who was the master who taught you and your brother?”
“Why should I answer that?”
In truth, Gang Jo did not even know his master’s name.
How could he answer a question about a name he had never known?
Sin Pung-gae glared at Gang Jo with a frightening intensity.
Yet Gang Jo’s gaze did not waver in the slightest.
‘Truly, this one possesses an iron resolve. I would do well not to make an enemy of such a man.’
Ahem——
Sin Pung-gae cleared his throat, glanced away, and stepped back.
“I shall depart for now.”
“Do not come again.”
“Whether I come or go is a matter for this old man’s discretion.”
With measured steps, he crossed the Stone Bridge.
Now that he knew where the bastard was, there was no need to rush.

*

“Brother, has he gone?”
The moment Sin Pung-gae vanished, Yang Jeong emerged cautiously, reading the situation.
Tsk—
“What a pathetic wretch.”
“Why am I pathetic? Brother?”
Yang Jeong asked with an aggrieved expression.
Then Gang Jo raised his voice.
“You’ve committed no crime, so why are you running? You pitiful fool!”
“It’s just… the Gae Bang’s leader wants to make me his successor, doesn’t he?”
He answered in a wheedling voice that seemed to curl inward upon itself.
“Then say it plainly. That you’d rather die than become the Gae Bang’s successor.”
“Do you know how stubborn that old man is? Brother?”
“That’s exactly why you should say it plainly, you fool. If you keep running from that old man from now on, I’ll kill you myself.”
Yang Jeong dropped his head.
“I understand, Brother. But in exchange, please take my side.”
“I’m always on your side.”
Hehehehe…
Yang Jeong, who had been downcast, suddenly broke into a broad smile.
‘I never knew such a calm response could be this moving.’
“Thank you, Brother.”
He forced down the tears that had welled up in his eyes.
Sniffle.

*

Sin Pung-gae, having returned to the Murim Alliance, went straight to find the leader.
“Let’s go, Master.”
Hehehehe…
“All of a sudden, where are we going, Master?”
When Baek Mun-do responded with ease, Sin Pung-gae raised his voice sharply.
“To the Inn just ahead, the Inn! Didn’t the Master himself heap endless praise on that Inn’s cooking, saying it made his mouth water? So today this old man must finally taste that food.”
“Then why not simply go and eat, sir?”
The Gae Bang’s leader had never once paid silver for a meal.
He simply walked in without invitation, ate his fill, and left.
Yet it was never truly free.
Sometimes he would needle the Inn’s cook or owner; other times he would depart after giving them assurances that he’d look after the place’s reputation.
That was how the Gae Bang’s leader paid his debts.
Sigh…
“The Inn’s owner is no easy mark.”
Sin Pung-gae released a deep breath.
Hehehehe…
Baek Mun-do burst out laughing.
Indeed, the Inn’s young owner was no ordinary man.
It was precisely for that reason that Sin Pung-gae had offered him a precious Martial Secret Manual in exchange for the drink.
“Do you harbor other intentions toward the Inn’s owner, Master?”
“My interest lies not in that man, but in his younger brother. I would take that younger brother as the Gae Bang’s successor.”
At Sin Pung-gae’s answer, Baek Mun-do recalled the younger brother—whether his name was Sam-ryong or Yang Jeong, he couldn’t quite recall.
His face was covered in bruises, yet he possessed a countenance so remarkably handsome that he might be called the finest beauty under heaven.
“Let’s go at once, Master.”
Baek Mun-do restrained his eagerness.
“Would it not be better to wait a while longer and go in the evening?”
Sin Pung-gae was impatient.
Yet with the leader putting it that way, there was nothing he could do.
“…Very well, then.”

*

‘How dare they deceive the Cult Master…’
He had never imagined there was someone in this world who would stab the Demon Cult’s master in the back.
Between his anger and bewilderment, a hollow laugh escaped him.
As he entered the Village, the women passing by stole glances at his face.
Among them were middle-aged women exchanging coy smiles.
“Who is this strikingly handsome middle-aged man?”
“Could he be the father of Yang Jeong, the young master?”
“Perhaps. It’s possible.”
The women’s murmuring burrowed relentlessly into the Cult Master’s ears.
A sigh escaped his lips unbidden.
‘This is infuriating. Absolutely infuriating.’
His breath came heavy and slow.
The man they called Yang Jeong could only be the innkeeper’s brother.
Once beyond the village, the Cult Master walked in measured steps, his mind churning with unwelcome thoughts.
‘How am I to handle these people?’
By rights, he would have cut their throats without hesitation.
But such a slight transgression hardly warranted execution.
Above all, the innkeeper possessed both pride and audacity—qualities the Cult Master found himself coveting despite himself.
‘If only that man’s martial skills were as formidable as his bearing, I’d take him as a son-in-law without delay.’
Lost in thought, he found himself approaching the forest’s edge.
The Cult Master crossed the Stone Bridge, his expression glacial and unmoved.
The moment he vaulted the wall, the innkeeper’s face came into view.
“Welcome, sir.”
The man greeted him with unflappable composure.
The Cult Master took his seat at the table without ceremony.
Clang! Clang!
Just as he was about to speak, the sound of hammering reached his ears from a distance, and he had to ask.
“What is that noise?”

*

“My brother is repairing the stable, sir. What may I serve you?”
At Gang Jo’s question, the Cult Master’s eyes turned cold as ice.
Neigh! Neigh!
But this time, it was the sound of a horse’s cry.
“That fool—one moment, please, sir.”
The moment Gang Jo heard the horse cry out, he hurried toward the back courtyard.
The Cult Master sat in silence, waiting for his return.
Whack!
“Do you have a death wish, you wretched creature?”
From the back courtyard came the sound of something being struck, followed by a cold voice, and the horse’s cries ceased at once.
The Cult Master waited in silence for the innkeeper to return.
“My apologies, honored guest. What may I prepare for you?”
Gang Jo bowed when he returned.
The Cult Master opened his mouth, his voice cutting like frost.
At last he was speaking with this man.
“But first—have you nothing to apologize for?”
Gang Jo looked at him with bewilderment.
“Have I done something wrong, sir?”
In that instant, anger flared hot in the Cult Master’s chest.
“Did you not serve me false medicinal wine?”
Yet Gang Jo remained unmoved.
“If wine with herbs added is medicinal wine, then that wine is surely medicinal wine.”
Hmm.
The Cult Master was forced to swallow his rage before it could pour forth.
Hearing it this way, the man had a point.
But he knew this fellow understood his true meaning perfectly well.
“So then, you—”
“Brother, I’m starving. Could you bring me some rice? Oh—we have a guest.”
Yang Jeong burst in just as the Cult Master was about to continue.
Hmm.
The Cult Master fought to contain the fury that threatened to erupt.
Yet his anger burned so fiercely that killing intent leaked out, faint but unmistakable.
“Huh?”
Yang Jeong, startled, quickly stepped back.
‘Given the Cult Master’s position, he shouldn’t display such killing intent before these young men.’
Realizing his mistake, he hastily withdrew his killing intent and turned to look at Gang Jo.
Yet Gang Jo’s face remained utterly composed.
Huh…….
The roiling anger vanished without a trace.
But then an unwelcome voice reached his ears.
“Is this the front yard of the Demon Cult?”

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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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