Moorim Pochang - Chapter 49

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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 49. The Horse Reclaimed.

“See you again.”
The Silver-haired Woman smiled and waved her hand.
After the Demon Cult guests had consumed three bowls of pork noodles, they left the Inn.
Once they departed, Gang Jo set about washing the bowls.
‘That one will still be searching desperately for it,’ he thought.
By the time he’d cleaned the kitchen and stepped outside, the Hour of the Pig was nearly upon them.
A whistle cut through the air.
Gang Jo deployed his Light Martial Art and headed toward the Village.
Deep in the night, the Village lay shrouded in silence.
As he scanned the area and shifted his Body Technique from place to place, he spotted Yang Jeong moving through the darkness.
The man was floundering about, flustered and without composure.
Another whistle pierced the night.
Yang Jeong, who had been wandering here and there using Light Martial Art, recognized Gang Jo at once and urgently launched his Body Technique toward him.
“Brother… it’s gone.”
Tears seemed ready to spill from Yang Jeong’s eyes at any moment.
“Where is the nearest Pasture or Horse Market to this Village?”
“The Pasture and… the Horse Market? Why do you ask?”
He replied in a voice choked with tears.
Normally, he would have grasped the meaning at once.
But his panic was so complete that his quick wit had abandoned him entirely.
“If horse thieves want to dispose of a mount quickly, wouldn’t they head straight for a Pasture or a Horse Market?”
Ah…
“Of course. You’re right, brother.”
A glimmer of hope brightened Yang Jeong’s tear-stained face.
“West of here, about a hundred li, there’s a fairly large Village with a small Pasture and Horse Market.”
“Then you check the Horse Market. I’ll search the Pasture.”
“Understood. Let’s go quickly, brother.”
Gang Jo and Yang Jeong moved westward at a steady pace, employing their Body Technique.
At full speed with Light Martial Art, a hundred li was a distance they could cover in half a Double Hour.
But Yang Jeong’s urgency showed no sign of abating, and he chattered nervously throughout.
“We need to hurry, brother. They may have already sold the horse and fled.”
“How are they going to sell a horse in the dead of night? Fool. We’ll get there in time even at this pace.”
“That’s not how it works. The Horse Market opens at dawn. Please move faster, brother.”
Pressed by his companion’s urgency, Gang Jo had no choice but to quicken his Body Technique considerably.
A long whistle carried through the darkness.

*

By the time Gang Jo returned to the Inn, the morning had passed and midday was drawing near.
There were no stallions at the Pasture.
‘It must be at the Horse Market,’ he thought.
Gang Jo looked up at the brilliant sunlight, his mind at ease.
‘Today, I hope only good things happen.’
The sunlight blazed with heat.
As Gang Jo hurried to prepare to open the Inn, a human shadow flickered near the Stone Bridge.
‘A customer already,’ he thought.
Gang Jo rushed outside, but his expression hardened instantly.
“What brings you here?”
The figure loitering before the Stone Bridge was Sin Pung-gae himself.
He studied Gang Jo’s expression and spoke awkwardly.
“I’ve come to make peace.”
“Peace? When did you and I ever quarrel?”
At Gang Jo’s bewilderment, Sin Pung-gae opened his mouth with a solemn expression.
“It’s not that. I’ve come to apologize on behalf of the Beggar Clan’s past wrongs. And I’ve abandoned the idea of taking your brother as the Beggar Clan’s Successor.”
In truth, he had always felt a debt of guilt toward Gang Jo.
Even if he asked for forgiveness, it would not erase the wrong he had done, yet he wished to convey his heart.
But to say he would abandon Yang Jeong was a lie.
Since there was no other way forward, he resolved to maintain cordial relations for now and watch for an opening.
“I have no intention of welcoming beggars as guests in the future.”
“I wouldn’t expect otherwise.”
Sin Pung-gae nodded with a sorrowful expression.
One could not draw fresh water from a well that held only dregs.
If they kept meeting face to face like this, little by little, eventually hearts would open to one another.
“And Sam-ryong is not here at the moment.”
“Where has he gone? I wanted to deliver a message to him directly.”
He did not believe Gang Jo’s words.
The last time too, hadn’t he claimed to be home, yet didn’t he clash fiercely with Ma So-hye?
“His horse was stolen. He’s out looking for it.”
The moment Sin Pung-gae heard this answer, his eyes gleamed with sudden light.
“His horse was stolen, you say?”
“Yes. He’s gone to the Horse Market, so he should return soon.”
“Much obliged. Well then, until next time.”
With his business concluded, Sin Pung-gae turned his steps toward the village.
Gang Jo watched his departing figure for a moment before returning to the Inn.

*

An ominous smile played across Sin Pung-gae’s face.
‘So the horse was stolen. I do hope that boy cherished it dearly.’
The stolen horse was surely the spirited beast he had seen before.
Though lean in build, it had a temperament fierce as a mountain cat.
‘I must find this creature as soon as possible.’
Sin Pung-gae quickened his pace.
Some hundred li west of the village lay a fairly large town where a Horse Market stood.
But there was no need to go that far.
Coming from the village was Yang Jeong, his shoulders slumped in dejection.
‘He didn’t find it. And in that state—clearly he held that stolen horse very dear indeed.’
Sin Pung-gae’s heart soared in triumph.
In the Jianghu, finding people or objects was the Beggar Clan’s foremost strength.
Yang Jeong, trudging heavily along, lifted his gaze.
In that moment, Sin Pung-gae moved to deploy his Light Martial Art.
But Yang Jeong, staring directly at him, showed no inclination to flee—only let his head droop further.
Ahem.
Sin Pung-gae cleared his throat and approached.
“I hear your horse has been stolen?”
“…Yes.”
Yang Jeong answered and attempted to slip past him.
Sin Pung-gae promptly fell into step beside him.
“Should you not have rushed to this old man first with such news?”
Yang Jeong stopped and fixed him with a steady gaze.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Am I not the Leader of the Beggar Clan? With beggars spread across all directions, that stolen horse would be found in no time.”
Yang Jeong’s dejected face suddenly brightened.
“Is that truly so, Leader?”
“It is. I stake my word on it.”
“Then please find my horse at once, Leader.”
Yang Jeong clung to Sin Pung-gae desperately.
Sin Pung-gae appeared to ponder deeply before finally speaking.
“But…if I find your horse for you, what will you give me in return?”
“Give you? Sir, what are you suggesting?”
“Surely moving so many beggars requires commensurate compensation, does it not?”
Now Yang Jeong understood what the man wanted.
Successor to the Beggar Clan.
This shrewd old man was using this opportunity to make him the Successor of the Beggar Clan.
He sank into deep contemplation.
He had no desire whatsoever to become the Beggar Clan’s successor, yet he wanted his horse back.
‘What am I going to do?’
While Yang Jeong was lost in thought, Sin Pung-gae watched him with a satisfied smile.
‘That stubborn horse has turned out to be quite useful after all.’
Soon enough, Yang Jeong lifted his head.
“First, please find my horse for me.”
Guffaw, guffaw, guffaw…!
Sin Pung-gae, breaking into hearty laughter, nodded his head.
It wasn’t the answer he’d hoped for, but what more could he ask for?
“Don’t worry yourself. I’ll find your horse within ten days.”
“Thank you, Leader.”
Yang Jeong bowed deeply with genuine respect.

*

“Brother…!”
Yang Jeong entered the Inn with raised voice.
His bright tone lifted Gang Jo’s spirits as well.
“Did you find the horse?”
“Not yet, brother.”
“Then why does your face look so cheerful?”
“I’ve found a way. The Beggar Clan’s Leader said he would find my horse for me.”
Gang Jo’s hands, which had been kneading dough, froze.
“Just now… what did you say?”
“The Beggar Clan’s Leader promised to find my horse.”
Ugh…!
At his words, Gang Jo felt as though his insides might burst.
‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’
He hadn’t meant to tell the Beggar Clan’s Leader about the stolen horse.
“Don’t you understand that old man’s true purpose?”
“I do, brother.”
“And yet you went ahead and asked him anyway?”
“What other choice do I have? Besides, I never said I’d become his successor.”
At his words, Gang Jo’s temper finally exploded.
“You idiot…! What will you do if that leech of an old man demands access to the Inn as his price for finding the horse?”
Only then did Yang Jeong’s expression turn grave.
He knew all too well how much his brother despised beggars.
“Couldn’t we just… placate him with a Spirit Herb?”
It seemed he was prepared to offer one as compensation.
“With one Spirit Herb you could buy hundreds of horses, you blockhead…!”
“That Spirit Herb was eaten by him, brother.”
Sigh…!
Gang Jo stood there, utterly dumbfounded.
How was he supposed to deal with this fool?
“I don’t know what to do anymore. Just see to the horse’s feed and repair the main hall.”
“But I need to find it soon…!”
As though bearing some guilt, Yang Jeong said nothing further and headed into the house.
“Ugh… infuriating.”

*

The mare in the Stable was also in a strange state.
She was refusing the hay and pasture grass she had eaten eagerly until now.
Gang Jo could only sigh.
Sigh…!
“I’m at a loss for words.”
The mare, too, seemed to understand that her mate had disappeared somewhere.
“What should we do, brother? If this continues, even the foal she’s carrying will be in danger.”
Yang Jeong fretted anxiously, his face heavy with concern.
“What other choice is there but to wait and see?”
Gang Jo’s heart was just as unsettled.
Yang Jeong kept peering outside the Inn whenever he had a moment.
He seemed to be waiting with bated breath for the Leader to bring back the horse.
“Your neck’s going to stretch out and turn you into a horse yourself, you bastard.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Gang Jo scolded him.
“It’s already been two days. Why hasn’t he come back? Please, I think I should go out and search for him myself.”
“Wait a little longer.”
And so another day wore on toward dusk.
As Gang Jo finished preparing dinner, he left the Kitchen and stepped out of the Inn.
He crossed the fence and approached the Stone Bridge when he saw the horse coming from the opposite direction.
Ha ha ha………….
Gang Jo burst out laughing.
Neigh…………
The stallion tossed his head and snorted.
“Well, look who’s back.”
The Horse Saddle was already gone.
But the ill-tempered stallion had returned to the Inn with only minor wounds.
It seemed he must have fled desperately from the hands of horse thieves.
Gang Jo took hold of the reins and stroked the horse’s mane.
“You’ve had a rough time.”
Neigh……
The stallion snorted and lowered his head.
“Brother……I think I should go out myself………….huh?”
Yang Jeong, who was about to enter the Inn, had spotted the returned horse.
Wow………….!
Letting out a loud cry, he used his Body Technique to leap forward and threw his arms around the horse’s neck.
“You came back, you old devil! I’ve missed you so much. How am I supposed to get around the Village without you?”
“Take him to the Stable right away.”
Ha ha ha………..!
“Yes, brother.”
Yang Jeong’s face was radiant with laughter, his eyes glistening with tears.

*

The night grew steadily deeper.
Under normal circumstances, Yang Jeong would have already come running with complaints of hunger.
But tonight he did not return from the Stable for a long time.
‘The Martial Alliance seems quite busy.’
The Martial Alliance guests who had been visiting the Inn had not appeared in several days.
‘Perhaps I should limber up my body.’
Gang Jo picked up the sword he had left leaning in the Kitchen.
But someone was crossing into the Stone Bridge.
Gang Jo set the sword aside again and went out to greet the visitor.
“Welcome, Miss Yeon Ja-seol.”
“I thought I’d come by for a drink.”
Yeon Ja-seol’s voice was bright, yet somehow shadowed underneath.
“Please, come in and sit.”
She took a seat near the Kitchen and looked up at Gang Jo.
“What do you have today?”
“We have chicken, so I’d recommend the Chicken Noodles.”
“Then bring me Chicken Noodles and some liquor.”
Gang Jo went into the Kitchen and began portioning vegetable side dishes onto a wooden plate.
Then he brought out the liquor along with them.
Pour…………
As Ja-seol filled her cup and lifted it, she spoke to Gang Jo in the Kitchen.
“I’ve known for a while now.”

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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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