Moorim Pochang - Chapter 34

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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 34. The Call of the Murim Alliance.

“Please, enjoy. I won’t accept payment for the Dongpo Pork.”
“Much obliged.”
The old man picked up his chopsticks first and lifted some noodles.
The moment the noodles entered his mouth, his expression transformed.
Ah…
“A single silver coin is hardly a loss at all for this.”
The young couple was equally astonished.
“Your cooking skill is truly extraordinary, grandfather. You won’t find such cuisine anywhere else,” the young man said.
After him, the young woman opened her mouth.
“It’s really delicious, grandfather.”
When she spoke, a nightingale’s voice flowed out, at odds with her tall frame.
“Come now, eat while it’s hot.”
Slurp, slurp…
They moved their chopsticks eagerly, consuming the pork noodles in quick succession.
The old man picked up a piece of Dongpo Pork and tasted it.
Hehehehe…
Then he laughed heartily.
“If only I’d known there was such an inn in front of the Murim Alliance, I would have come here long ago.”
Thoroughly pleased, he looked at Gang Jo with a smile spreading across his weathered face.
“You’re a young man with remarkably fine cooking skills.”
Gang Jo smiled in return.
“Thank you.”

*

“Brother! I’ve got something to show you…!”
Yang Jeong came running over in a flurry, but the moment he spotted the lovely woman, his gait became measured and dignified.
In one of his hands hung a pheasant.
“Where did you catch that?”
Gang Jo asked, and Yang Jeong answered in a subdued voice.
“I happened upon it while taking a stroll through the forest.”
“Ah… so while I told you to repair the pavilion, you’ve been wandering through the woods out of boredom?”
Yang Jeong laughed awkwardly.
Ha ha…
“I only took a brief walk, brother.”
“I haven’t heard the sound of hammering even once from morning until now, you rascal.”
Just as Gang Jo was about to lose his temper, the old man and the young couple rose to their feet.
“We’ve eaten exceptionally well.”
The young man handed over three silver coins with a satisfied expression.
“Please visit us again.”
The old man and the young couple left the inn with pleased expressions.
The moment they stepped outside, Yang Jeong’s voice changed entirely.
“I’ll start right after lunch, brother, please just give me this one chance.”
“You exhaust me.”
There was no one in the world quite so adept at shirking as this one.
He’d likely been playing in the forest since morning and only happened to catch the pheasant by luck.
“Give me some food so I can start work right away.”
“Serve yourself.”
“Understood, brother.”
Yang Jeong entered the kitchen and opened the rice pot first.
Even as he dished out rice, his mouth never stopped moving.
“Those guests dining just now—weren’t they perhaps members of the Peng Clan?”
“The Peng Clan? How would you know that?”
“Come on, brother. Don’t you see the large curved blade strapped to their backs?”
At his words, Gang Jo too began to suspect that those guests might indeed be members of the Peng Clan.
But the words that tumbled from his mouth were heavy with irritation.
“Just because someone wears a Large Curved Blade, they’re all kin of the Peng Clan? This pathetic wretch.”
“Still, the Peng Clan is the first name that comes to mind, isn’t it?”
“Stop talking nonsense and ladle out the rice. Mine too.”

*

More than ten days had passed since the Bloodshed Battle.
The Murim Alliance spent those days absorbed in the grim work of collecting the dead and settling accounts.
Once the cleanup had reached a manageable point, Sin Pung-gae sought out the Alliance Master.
“You’ve borne a heavy burden, sir.”
Baek Mun-do bowed deeply from the waist, his gratitude evident.
“It was only what needed doing, Alliance Master.”
Sin Pung-gae had thrown himself into the work of gathering the corpses and handling the aftermath with both arms rolled up.
Now that the worst of the cleanup was finished, what remained was to honor those who had earned merit.
Though many had fallen, and honoring the fallen seemed almost absurd, it was nonetheless necessary for the sake of morale.
“Many of our veteran Masters have perished.”
The fact that losses had been held to this level was only because the Alliance’s veteran Masters had thrown themselves at the enemy without regard for their own lives.
“We’ve already sent the bodies back to their families. Perhaps we should erect a monument of merit at the Murim Alliance.”
“That would be fitting.”
Yet erecting a monument alone seemed insufficient.
They would need to commission a skilled painter to capture the likenesses of the fallen in life, then enshrine those portraits at the Alliance.
“And should this old man not also honor his successor’s merit?”
“That would be appropriate. After all, he saved the lives of the younger generation. We must acknowledge that achievement.”
“Then have him summoned directly to the Murim Alliance.”
Hehehehe…
“Surely you don’t mean to lock him in the Alliance and coerce a promise from him?”
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw…
“There’s no other way about it. The moment he sets foot in the Alliance, I’ll extract a commitment from him.”
Sin Pung-gae seemed delighted at the prospect.
“I’ll send for him, though I’m not certain things will proceed smoothly.”
In truth, Baek Mun-do harbored his own desires regarding this man called Yang Jeong.
He hadn’t expected anyone to pick up the Moonlight Sword Technique’s forms so quickly, and given that his martial skill was considerable, Yang Jeong would make an excellent fourth disciple.
Taking him as a fourth disciple would bring his total to five.
But with Sin Pung-gae standing in the way, he couldn’t afford to reveal such ambition.
Whether Sin Pung-gae sensed Baek Mun-do’s inner thoughts or not, his expression suddenly grew grave.
“Word has come from our intelligence network—strange occurrences have been increasing across the Martial World.”
“That’s only natural now that the Blood Sect has been revived.”
Baek Mun-do’s heart grew heavy.
He had been prepared, to some degree, for the Blood Sect’s revival.
But he’d never imagined that the Blood Sect’s puppet master was his sworn brother and one of the Hundred Heroes.
“Beyond the Blood Sect, there’s also a sect called the Heavenly Master Sect that’s been appearing throughout the Martial World. In particular, Jangsa City seems to be expanding rapidly—the Heavenly Master Sect has even healed the city lord’s chronic illness.”
“Watch them closely, sir.”
“I’ve already scattered my agents in all directions.”
*

Baek Won-yeong had left the Murim Alliance for the first time in a while.
Beside him, Baek Ha-yeong walked in step.
He’d originally planned to go alone, but she’d quickly attached herself to him.
“You care for Yang Jeong so much?”
Baek Won-yeong asked with a subtle smile playing at his lips.
She responded with false modesty.
“What are you saying? There’s only you for me.”
Haha…
“As your brother, that’s pleasant to hear—but you should speak your true feelings plainly.”
“That’s not it at all.”
“Hide your heart like that, and some other woman will snatch Yang Jeong away before you know it.”
Baek Ha-yeong’s complexion darkened at once.
That, in fact, was what truly worried her.
With looks as striking as his, more than one woman must be harboring designs on him.
Yet pride would not allow him to reveal such intent first.
The siblings crossed the Stone Bridge and entered the inn.
“Welcome.”
As they stepped inside, Gang Jo greeted them with his usual composure.
“Business at the Murim Alliance has kept me busy—it’s been a while since I’ve visited.”
“Please, sit.”
Gang Jo gestured to a table, and they took their seats across from each other.
“What would you like today?”
“We have chicken, so I can prepare Chicken Noodles.”
“That will do, then.”
While Baek Won-yeong placed his order, Baek Ha-yeong turned her head this way and that, surveying the inn.
Gang Jo noticed her searching gaze and asked, “By the way, where has Yang Jeong gone?”

At this, Gang Jo broke into a slight smile.
“Don’t you hear the hammering? He’s repairing the pavilion right now.”
Ha ha ha…!
Baek Won-yeong laughed heartily, but Baek Ha-yeong’s expression grew tighter.
‘To make Yang Jeong do such work…’
As if summoned by the very mention of his name, the pounding ceased, and Yang Jeong appeared.
“Have you come to eat, brother?”
Yang Jeong, who had been bounding over somewhat carelessly, straightened and bowed respectfully.
“It’s been too long, Yang Jeong.”
Baek Won-yeong offered his greeting first, and Baek Ha-yeong moved to return the courtesy with a smile.
But then she noticed Yang Jeong’s eyes were badly swollen and bruised.
“What happened to your face, Yang Jeong?”
Ha ha ha…
Yang Jeong produced a hearty laugh.
“I bumped into a pillar while helping the brother with his work, that’s all.”
The truth was that the bruises were from the night before, when he’d been caught trying to steal drink and had paid for it with a beating.
But he could never tell such a thing to her.
She wore an expression of concern.
“Do be more careful…”
Gang Jo watched their exchange through the large opening into the kitchen.
He sighed.
“Thoughtless brat.”
*

“We are grateful for saving my life.”
As he bowed, Baek Ha-yeong quickly stood and bowed as well.
“Thank you, Yang Jeong.”
She could still see Yang Jeong’s solid figure blocking her path, vividly before her eyes.
Ha ha…
“It was nothing. I merely did what needed to be done.”
Yang Jeong received their gratitude with a gentle smile.
“Think nothing of it.”
Gang Jo waved away their thanks with an air of indifference.
Straightening, Baek Won-yeong spoke in measured tones.
“In truth, Father asked me to bring Yang Jeong to him. It seems he wishes to commend greatly the merit he displayed before.”
Baek Ha-yeong looked upon Yang Jeong with pride, but Yang Jeong was inwardly flustered.
“Why… not the brother, but me…?”
At his words, Baek Won-yeong’s expression grew awkward.
“In truth, Father wished to commend you both, but it seems he judged your merit to be the greater. I apologize, Gang Jo.”
How many in this world could repel an enemy with words alone?
Yet this man called Gang Jo had accomplished that difficult deed.
What still puzzled Baek Won-yeong was why the staggeringly powerful female master had not pressed her advantage and advanced.
Had she done so, they would never have lasted long.
But she had only unleashed her murderous intent—she had not broken through.
Baek Won-yeong valued Gang Jo more highly than Yang Jeong.

“I’m content as I am.”
Fame held no value for him whatsoever.
What stirred his curiosity was only his standing in the Martial World.
‘My skills don’t seem as weak as I once thought.’
At Gang Jo’s response, Baek Won-yeong bowed once more.
“I am truly sorry.”
Yang Jeong asked with an awkward smile.
“Then when should I come?”
“Come to the Murim Alliance around four o’clock tomorrow. At that time, the Alliance’s martial artists will gather to honor your achievement.”
“Ah… I understand.”
Yang Jeong answered, though unease churned beneath his calm exterior.
‘If my fame grows, this will become troublesome…’
All he wanted was a comfortable life—good food, simple pleasures.
But if his reputation spread through the Martial World, he might be drawn into bloodshed, whether he wished it or not.
As he wrestled with these worries, Gang Jo spoke up.
“After the Bloodshed Battle at the Murim Alliance, a man bearing a spear came seeking someone. He called himself Cheol-goe and said he would be visiting the Demonic Sect.”
Baek Won-yeong and Baek Ha-yeong went pale.
“A man bearing a spear, you say?”
“Yes. He dined here and then departed.”
At Gang Jo’s answer, Baek Won-yeong spun around urgently.
The man with the spear.
Everything had begun with him.
After he left, countless enemies had descended upon them, and countless warriors of the Murim Alliance had fallen.
“I must report this to Father at once.”
“Let’s go quickly, brother. We’ll be back soon, Yang Jeong.”
After exchanging farewells, they hurried from their seats.
Once the two had left, Yang Jeong tilted his head in puzzlement.
“A man like that came after the Bloodshed Battle? How did I not hear of this, Gang Jo? Why was I kept in the dark?”
Gang Jo fixed him with a hard stare and answered.
“Because you were running for your life at the time.”
Ah…
Yang Jeong nodded as if understanding at last.
“That’s right. It was indeed like that.”

*

“So this man Cheol-goe spoke of going to the Demonic Sect?”
“Yes. He dined at the Inn and left word of his intentions, according to the report.”
Hmm…
“I understand. You may go.”
After dismissing Baek Won-yeong, Baek Mun-do seized his brush with urgency.
‘It may already be too late.’
Scratch-scratch… scratch-scratch…
He wrote with swift, flowing strokes.
The Blood Sect was an enemy not only to the Murim Alliance but to the Demonic Sect as well.
They were formidable foes—ones that could barely be repelled only if their combined strength were brought to bear.
“Is Yeong-so present…?”
At the raise of his voice, a man in his mid-thirties stepped into the chamber.
“You called, Alliance Leader?”
Baek Mun-do placed the letter into an envelope and handed it over.
“Day and night, without rest, you must ride to the Demonic Sect and deliver this.”
“Your will be done.”
The man took the sealed envelope and hastily left the room.
Baek Mun-do watched him go with anxious eyes.
‘It must not arrive too late.’

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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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