Moorim Pochang - Chapter 43

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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 43. The Three Dragons and Yeohwa (2).

When Gangjo emerged from the kitchen with a sword in hand, Shinpoongae asked urgently.
“Where is your brother?”
At his question, Gangjo composed himself and offered a smooth lie.
“The old man visits every day and makes life miserable—how could he stay here any longer? He went home.”
Shinpoongae studied Gangjo’s face intently.
“He really… went home?”
“Yes.”
Gangjo’s eyes betrayed not the slightest flicker of uncertainty.
So it was true.
The wretch really had fled home.
Shinpoongae’s composure slipped as alarm flooded through him.
“Let’s go.”
The commander turned his horse toward the Martial Alliance, and the subordinates who had surrounded Gangjo moved to depart with him.
“Where is his family estate?”
As he walked, Gangjo asked back in a frigid voice.
“Do you truly expect me to tell you that?”
Left alone, Shinpoongae crossed the stone bridge.
When he opened the door, all that met his eyes were weapons stacked high in one corner of the room.
Why would weapons be piled in a room like this?
He closed the door and ventured deeper into the inn, but felt no presence of any living soul.
Neigh…!
Shinpoongae followed the sound of a horse’s cry into the stable.
“This… this beast…?”
But he was forced to bolt from the stable just as quickly.
A horse reared up with bared teeth, its front hooves striking at the air.
“He’s not here. Not here.”
In the end, Shinpoongae left the inn empty-handed.
‘I’ll have to unleash the enforcers to track down his family home.’

*

Whoosh……
A woman with tattoos covering her face materialized before the stone bridge on a gust of wind.
After surveying the interior, she crossed the bridge and entered the inn.
She sensed no presence of any living person.
‘They must have stepped out for a moment.’
Yeohwa sat down at the dining table to wait for Gangjo.
Though he was a man she ought to kill, his cooking made her mouth water with desire—it was that delicious.
‘Should I keep him alive a little longer?’
After a moment’s deliberation, she rose to her feet and inspected the kitchen.
The kitchen looked like any other inn’s.
Leaving the kitchen, Yeohwa opened the door to the room as Shinpoongae had done.
What caught her eye was a stack of weapons gathered in one corner of the room.
The instant she saw those weapons, a cold, visceral killing intent bloomed in her eyes.
Those weapons were the personal arms of her subordinates.
‘He dies today.’
With murder in her heart, she returned to the dining table and sat down to wait.

*

Baek Won-young walked alongside Gangjo with their shoulders nearly touching.
“He really went home?”
At his question, Gangjo let out a soft laugh.
“Would he leave without even saying goodbye?”
Hah-hah-hah…………
Baek Won-yeong couldn’t suppress his laughter even in this frustrating situation.
The Director-General, who had been leading the way ahead, glanced back and studied both him and Kang Jo.
‘I’ve never seen laughter quite so genuine,’ the Director mused.
Baek Won-yeong’s laughter spoke volumes.
‘It seems the young master of the White Pavilion has taken quite a liking to this innkeeper. They may have been cultivating a friendship in secret.’
As they entered the Murim Alliance grounds, rumors had already spread—many had come out to watch.
Those gathered were promising young talents from the Rising Dragon Society and other gifted youths who had not yet joined its ranks.
‘I’ve become a spectacle whether I wished it or not,’ Kang Jo thought to himself.
Kang Jo held his head high and walked as the Director-General led them forward.
Upon reaching the training grounds, Baek Won-yeong offered counsel.
“Keep your composure.”
“Do not worry, sir.”
Kang Jo received the words without hesitation.
Now that matters had unfolded this way, it seemed worthwhile to see what judgment the Murim Alliance would render.
“Where is Young Master Eon?”
The Director-General, scanning the assembled young masters, raised his voice.
With that, Eon So-ryong stepped forward from among them.
His gaze was deadly as he glared at Kang Jo.
“Is it true that this man launched a sneak attack at the inn?”
The Director-General posed the question first to Eon So-ryong.
“That is correct, Director-General. I was quietly emptying my cup when he suddenly attacked from behind and took my sword.”
Eon So-ryong lied without flinching, his expression unmoved.
The Director-General, nodding slightly, turned to Kang Jo.
“Is that the truth?”
“The man grew rowdy from drink and reached for his sword, so I struck him a few times to stop him.”
Ha-ha-ha………
Mm-hmm…….
Some of the young masters laughed at Kang Jo’s answer while others sighed.
Eon So-ryong was renowned for his martial prowess, even among the Rising Dragon Society’s members.
How could the innkeeper possibly have overpowered him?
With the stories contradicting each other, the Director-General found himself unable to reach a quick decision.
Yet a swift judgment had to be made one way or another.
“If it were not a sneak attack, Young Master Eon would not have suffered one-sidedly, would he?”
Eon So-ryong answered confidently to the Director-General’s question.
“That is so, Director-General.”
The Director-General’s gaze shifted to Kang Jo.
“You said you struck him only a few times because he was being rowdy from drink?”
Kang Jo nodded in agreement.
“That is correct.”
A smile played at the corners of the Director-General’s mouth.
“Then you should be able to demonstrate it again here and now.”
At his words, Baek Won-yeong moved to step forward quickly.
“This promises to be interesting.”
But just then, Baek Moon-do appeared.

*

“I’ve truly enjoyed myself today, Young Master Yang.”
Ha-ha-ha….
“I too have found it most delightful, Young Miss Baek.”
Yang Jeong-eun answered with a bright, ringing laugh.
In truth, she had not enjoyed herself at all.
Wherever they went, the gazes of young women had been sharp and hostile—like treading through a thicket of thorns.
As they drew near the inn, he suggested they dine.
“Lunch was some time ago, but might you take a meal at the inn? I would be delighted to treat you.”
Baek Ha-yeong flashed her white teeth in a smile at his offer.
Heh-heh……
“Thank you. Actually, I’m quite hungry.”
They crossed the stone bridge and entered through the broken gate wall.
Gasp…!
Climbing over the wall, Yang Jeong swallowed empty air.
A woman covered entirely in facial tattoos sat before him, her gaze fixed upon him with an intensity that froze his blood.
“At last I meet the young master of the Jang Clan.”
Yeohwa’s lips curved in a smile, but her eyes burned with murderous intent.
Metallic ring!
Yang Jeong and Baek Hayoung drew their blades at once.
‘Where in the world has brother gone?’
Yang Jeong’s eyes darted around, searching for Kang Jo.
But there was no sign of him anywhere.
‘…Damn it all.’
Cold sweat began to pour down his back.
If his opponent possessed even weak martial skill, this would have been an excellent chance to display his swordwork before Baek Hayoung.
But this woman was not someone against whom he could afford to show off.
Yeohwa shifted her gaze from Yang Jeong to Baek Hayoung.
“Could it be… you are the daughter of the Lord?”
“That I am, you villain! My father is none other than the Master of the Murim Alliance!”
Baek Hayoung declared her identity without hesitation.
For Yang Jeong stood steadfast at her side.
Hahahaha…!
Yeohwa threw back her head and laughed.
When her laughter ceased, her eyes flashed with a cold blue radiance.
Whiiish…
Yeohwa launched herself from her seated position.
Her figure shot through space toward Baek Hayoung in an instant.
Gasp!
Yang Jeong was taken aback as the woman, who had been ten paces away, suddenly materialized before him.
He instinctively swung his sword toward her.
Sword light and saber light clashed and sparked.
Crash…!
When her blade was blocked, Yeohwa’s eyes gleamed with surprise.
She had thought him merely a boastful charlatan with a silver tongue, yet his swordwork was far from shallow.
No—the terrible power contained in his blade was something not to be ignored.
She descended to the ground and rotated her form.
Her Falling Leaf Blade swept through space, slashing toward Yang Jeong’s waist.
Crash…!
Sword and saber collided once more.
The moment blade met blade, shockwaves rippled outward in all directions.
“Flee at once, Miss Baek…!”
Yang Jeong cried out urgently and attempted to move his form.
But instead, Baek Hayoung hurled her sword at Yeohwa.
Crash…!
Blade and saber collided, and her figure was knocked backward through the air.
In the same instant, Yeohwa’s blade drove toward her chest.
Crash…!
The blade that had been driving at her waist suddenly changed direction, parrying the sword that Yang Jeong thrust toward her waist.
“Flee at once…!”
Yang Jeong raised his voice again.
Only then did Baek Hayoung turn her form toward the Murim Alliance compound.
“Wait just a moment, Yang Jeong…!”
Hehehehe…
“Do you think I’ll let you escape?”
Yeohwa moved to give chase to the fleeing woman.
But Yang Jeong’s sword would not permit it.
Crash…!
Having parried the blade thrusting at her back, Yeohwa fixed Yang Jeong with a glare, her eyes burning with that cold blue fire.
“It seems I must kill you first.”
She launched herself at him.
But he had no desire whatsoever to face her.
To stand against her was certain death.
Whoosh……
He bolted toward the house.
But Yeohwa had no intention of letting him escape.
Screech……
The Jade Leaf Blade, released from her hand, drove deep into Yang Jeong’s back.
As he fled, Yang Jeong spun around desperately and swatted the blade away.
Bang…!,!
The Jade Leaf Blade returned to Yeohwa, while Yang Jeong, overwhelmed by the impact, flew backward into the wall.
“Please…………..!”
He barely kicked off the wall and launched himself into the air.
Screech…..
The moment his body rose into the void, the Jade Leaf Blade came flying at him again.
*

The head attendant bowed and approached Baek Moon-do.
“The thing is, Eon So-hyup at the inn………..”
And he explained what had happened at the inn.
Baek Moon-do nodded and looked over Kang Jo and Eon So-ryong in turn.
‘That boy, Eon Ka’s son, must have been in the wrong.’
Some things could be known without seeing them with one’s own eyes or experiencing them directly.
Eon Ka’s son had an exceptionally strong sense of pride.
He could understand pride proportional to one’s skill, but this one’s pride far exceeded his abilities.
Still, he never let his true thoughts show.
‘This would be a good opportunity to assess the true level of this fellow Kang Jo.’
“Do as you see fit, head attendant.”
With the sect leader’s approval, the head attendant turned toward Kang Jo and Eon So-ryong.
“The two of you will hold a duel using the Fist Frame Technique.”
As his words landed, Eon So-ryong clasped his hands respectfully and bowed.
“Thank you for this chance to restore my honor, head attendant.”
He was certain of victory in this duel.
Though the innkeeper was said to be fierce, he himself was a master who had properly cultivated martial skill.
At the inn, he had fled in panic, but such a thing would not happen again.
Kang Jo unbuckled his sword from his waist and handed it to Baek Won-yeong.
Baek Won-yeong took the blade without a word and stepped back.
Yet his face was filled with worry.
‘Can my brother really defeat Eon So-ryong?’

*

Titter-titter-titter…..
When the two men faced each other in the training ground, Sin Pung-gae let out a mischievous laugh.
“That fool Eon Ka picked the wrong opponent.”
He had some sense of Kang Jo’s skill.
The feet thrusting up from below were sharper and more precise than an awl, and they were heavy.
He had witnessed countless leg techniques from Jianghu masters, but he had never seen footwork as sharp as this man’s.
“Have you ever crossed blades with that fellow, sect leader?”
Baek Moon-do asked casually.
Titter-titter-titter…
“Didn’t this old man tell you before? That he’s no easy opponent.”
Whoosh…
The moment his answer finished, Eon So-ryong moved first.
Closing the distance quickly, he threw a fist at Kang Jo’s face.
But it was a feint to deceive his opponent’s eyes.
Yang Jeong withdrew his fist and, rotating his body, bent low.
His extended leg whipped across Kang Jo’s shin.
This leg technique was called the Branch-Fishing Method, a technique from Eon Ka’s martial arts.
It meant using a branch to catch fish—something that could fell most opponents in a single strike.
But Kang Jo simply stepped back slightly and avoided his leg.
‘Look at this guy.’
Swish..
As Eon So-ryong spun his body technique, he kicked the ground with his left foot and propelled himself upward.
The moment his body rose, his right foot came crashing down toward Kang Jo’s head.
It was a truly graceful and magnificent leg technique.

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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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