Moorim Pochang - Chapter 52

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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 52. Ma-gyo and the Murim Alliance.

Shin Pung-gae, who had witnessed and heard of such matters countless times, grasped the instigator at once.
“I wish he would abandon thoughts of revenge at this point, but it seems that will be difficult.”
“I hear that fellow Kang Jo has not hesitated to sever the thieves’ arms and cut off their heads?”
“Yes. Even among the Late-stage Practitioners who were watching, some of them turned their heads away.”
Chuckle, chuckle, chuckle…
“So he is no small opponent after all.”
Shin Pung-gae was not laughing because he found it amusing.
He laughed because Kang Jo’s cruel temperament made his heart feel stifled.
He felt that Kang Jo’s savage nature was the result of his own failure.
‘Damn those fools. We should have beaten them to death as the Alliance Leader said, not cut off their heads back then.’
As Shin Pung-gae was reproaching himself, a subordinate of the Chief Administrator came rushing in.
“Alliance Leader. It seems you should come urgently.”
“What is the matter?”
“A martial artist from Ma-gyo has arrived, carrying a letter from the Sect Master.”

*

The man who came to the Murim Alliance bearing the Sect Master’s letter was no ordinary martial artist.
“I have come at the Sect Master’s behest.”
An old man with white hair and beard bowed first.
‘His face looks familiar. Where have I seen him before?’
Baek Moon-do was curious about the old man’s identity, but he bowed respectfully in greeting.
“Welcome.”
The Chief Administrator and Shin Pung-gae took their seats to one side, while the Alliance Leader and the old man sat facing each other.
“The Alliance Leader remains unchanged, both then and now.”
At the old man’s words, the Alliance Leader looked quite apologetic.
“Forgive me, Elder. It seems I have seen you somewhere before, yet I cannot quite recall it.”
Heh, heh, heh…
“That is understandable. It was long ago that we merely exchanged greetings in passing. This old man is the father of Tae-woo.”
The Alliance Leader started in surprise and rose to his feet.
“Moon-do offers his respects to you, Father.”
He bowed once more with utmost formality.
The old man was Seo Tae-woo’s father, who had been reported missing and presumed dead.
Heh, heh, heh…
“I have not come as Tae-woo’s father, but as an emissary, so please spare the excessive courtesy.”
As the old man finished speaking, the Chief Administrator handed the letter to the Alliance Leader.
The Alliance Leader broke the seal and examined the letter.
His eyes trembled as he read through it.
‘This… this… that bastard has made the first move.’

*

Listen, Moon-do.
As we discussed over drink before, I have selected fifty skilled personnel from our sect.
I am sending these fifty to the Murim Alliance, so do with them as you see fit—grill them or boil them if you must.
But if the children I have sent from home are looked down upon, I will slaughter the Murim Alliance first.
See that you guide them well and forge them into one hundred heroes.
I will buy you a drink later.

Heh, heh, heh…
The Alliance Leader forced a laugh and handed the letter to the Chief Administrator.
As the Chief Administrator received it, Shin Pung-gae also craned his neck and stole a glance at the letter.
“I confess, this has become quite difficult, sir. In truth, I was already considering sending skilled personnel to Ma-gyo myself.”
The Alliance Leader opened his mouth with a measured tone.
For the Murim Alliance to receive talented people from Ma-gyo was ordinarily no great matter.
The Murim Alliance and Ma-gyo were sworn enemies; conflict would break out from the very first day.
But there was a far greater problem: the fact that he himself would have to play the role of elder brother to them as well.
Dok-go Yeop must have disliked that prospect and moved first.
Heh-heh-heh……
At that, the old man let out a hollow laugh.
“The skilled personnel have already departed from Ma-gyo. And please accept this as well.”
He drew another sealed letter from his robe and handed it over.
As the Alliance Leader opened the letter to examine it, he found twenty bank notes worth ten thousand taels each inside.
“The Sect Master instructed me to say that since we are entrusting these skilled personnel to the Murim Alliance, the costs for their meals and clothing must be paid separately.”
At the old man’s words, the Alliance Leader’s hands trembled as he held the bank notes.
Dok-go Yeop was always cunning and sharp-witted.
In the past he had claimed the lady Kwak first, and now he was unloading these skilled personnel as well.
‘That…bastard. I’d like to beat him to death.’
Seething with rage, he wanted to cry out.
But with people around him, he couldn’t even let himself shout freely.
Uh-heh-heh-heh………
The Alliance Leader suppressed his fury beneath an awkward laugh.
Handing the bank notes over to the Chief Administrator, he turned his gaze toward the old man.
“Please tell the Sect Master that I shall repay this debt without fail.”
The old man shook his head.
“This old man has no intention of returning to Ma-gyo.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
At the Alliance Leader’s question, a bitter smile crossed the old man’s lips.
“I was born and raised as a martial artist, so death is much like a brother to me. I know better than anyone that my son is already gone. But for a father to send his son before him—that is a suffering far worse than death itself. Now I think I shall embark on a long journey to find my son. I have already received the Sect Master’s blessing.”
The air in the room was melancholy and heavy.
The Chief Administrator said nothing, and Shin Pung-gae closed his eyes.
The Alliance Leader felt an overwhelming pity for him.
“Would it not be better to wait a little longer at Ma-gyo?”
The old man shook his head.
“When enemies attacked Ma-gyo, this old man took up his blade as well. I wanted to find my son among them. Each time I cut down one of those with eyes turned white and vacant, it felt as though I were striking down my own boy. If that is what became of him, should I not, as his father, take his life with my own hands?”
Ah………
The Alliance Leader squeezed his eyes shut.
This old man was preparing himself for a journey toward death.
Its ending would surely be sorrowful and lamentable.
Heh-heh-heh……..
The old man laughed hollowly once more.
“This old man is rather glad. Will I not soon meet my forebears?”
The martial masters of Ma-gyo accepted death on the battlefield with pride.
Such a bold death—was it not something they could face their ancestors with honor for?
“Now that my business is done, I shall take my leave.”
As the old man rose, the Alliance Leader, the Chief Administrator, and Shin Pung-gae also stood.
“Go well.”
Shin Pung-gae bowed respectfully, and the Chief Administrator bent quietly at the waist.
“May your path be peaceful, sir.”
The Alliance Leader also bowed, offering his final farewell.
“Perhaps we shall meet again—long from now.”
The old man exchanged his parting words and left the room.

*

Once he had left the Murim Alliance, the old man’s face grew noticeably lighter.
Now that he had cast off all his attachments, his heart felt unburdened.
He had several children, but Seo Tae-woo had been his favorite.
As he turned his steps toward the village, he gazed at the Guest Inn nestled deep in the forest.
He had wanted to stop there on his way to the Murim Alliance as well.
It was a place the Sect Master had encouraged him to visit.
But with business pressing, only now could he finally stop there.
As the old man was about to cross the Stone Bridge spanning the stream, the innkeeper had already come out to greet him.
“Welcome, sir.”
“Can I get a meal?”
“Yes. A bowl of noodles costs one silver tael.”
The old man’s expression flickered with surprise, but only for an instant.
He laughed softly to himself.
What was one silver tael for a bowl of noodles, when he had shed all worldly attachments?
“Bring me a bowl then.”
“Please, sit down, sir.”
The old man leaned his Great Sword against the dining table and took a seat.

*

‘I’ve seen this somewhere before.’
Kang Jo found the old man’s Great Sword oddly familiar.
The hilt was considerably longer than those on other swords—it wasn’t a common design.
‘Ah… there’s a blade that looks similar to that one back in the room.’
Kang Jo pulled out the noodles and dropped them into boiling water.
Just then, Yang Jung came running in.
“Why are you here? I told you to keep working on the wall tiles.”
When Kang Jo expressed his annoyance, Yang Jung pointed upward with his finger.
“It’s starting to rain, sir.”
Indeed, drops were falling from the sky.
Yet they were so fine and sporadic that they barely qualified as rain.
“At that rate, your clothes won’t even get damp, you fool.”
“But I think it’s about to pour down soon.”
“Then work until it does.”
“I’ll rest for a moment and then get back to it.”
Yang Jung found a seat a little distance away from where the guest was dining.
“Chicken and noodles.”
Kang Jo placed the chicken noodles on the old man’s table, along with some vegetable side dishes.
The old man began eating without a word.
Slurp…
He put the meat and noodles into his mouth, worked his jaw for a moment, then moved his chopsticks rapidly.
Slurp… slurp…
‘This truly is delicious. There was a reason the Sect Master told me to stop by.’
Though he had shed all worldly attachments, this dish left him with a lingering fondness.
‘To find myself at a dining table at my age.’
A wry smile crossed his face as he looked toward Kang Jo.
“Could I have another bowl?”
“Of course. I’ll bring it right away.”
As Kang Jo disappeared into the kitchen, Yang Jung, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up.
“It’s delicious, isn’t it, sir?”
The old man chuckled.
“Indeed. There’s nowhere else that makes noodles as well as this place.”
At the old man’s praise, Yang Jung beamed as though he himself had been complimented.
“The cook’s noodles are so delicious I can’t leave this place, sir. People say home-cooked meals taste best, but that’s all lies. After eating his cooking, when I eat at home, my throat closes up and I can’t swallow.”
He chattered away with evident delight.
“Don’t bother the guest. Go on, step back.”
Kang Jo set down the fresh bowl of noodles with a reproving tone.
The old man laughed again.
“Not at all. Conversation with a young man is always a pleasure.”
“You see? The sir says it’s enjoyable.”
The old man smiled as he listened to Kang Jo and Yang Jung banter back and forth.
This place had not only excellent food but a lively, pleasant atmosphere.
Slurp… slurp…
As he resumed eating, Yang Jung stepped back.
But the conversation merely changed its subject.
“Sir, what do you think about casting nets in the stream when the water is running high? We could catch a lot of fish.”
“What would we do with the fish?”
“Surely you can’t keep serving only braised pork, pork noodles, and chicken noodles? Why not try preparing a fish dish for once? What do you think, brother?”
“I don’t have the confidence for it.”
“Ah, come on. Since when does anyone start out knowing how to do something well?”
The old man listened to the two of them with quiet pleasure as he ate.
Once, his own sons had brought him joy like this.
‘It feels as though I’ve stepped back into those days.’
When he finished eating in good spirits, he drew two silver coins from his purse.
“That was truly excellent.”
“Thank you, sir. Please come again.”
Heh, heh, heh……..
The old man couldn’t help but laugh.
Would he truly find his way back to this place again?
It would likely be difficult.
After crossing the Stone Bridge, he paused a moment to gaze back at the Guest Inn, then turned his steps toward the village.

*

Once the old man had departed, Kang Jo entered the back room.
He began to rummage through the weapons stacked in the corner.
“There it is.”
A sword with an unusually long grip lay mixed among the other arms and armor.
‘Should I have shown it to that guest?’
The shape was so similar that the old man might very well not have recognized it.
‘If he comes again, I’ll show him then.’
Kang Jo set the sword aside by itself.
“Brother. What are you doing?”
“You just keep working, you fool.”
Whoooosh………..
The moment Kang Jo scolded Yang Jung, the rain began to pour down.
“Brother. The rain is coming down so hard—I think we should just rest.”

*

Whoooosh………
The rain fell endlessly.
It poured as though the sky itself had torn open.
With rain like this, no customers would be stepping through the door of the Guest Inn.
Kang Jo sat before the table, gazing blankly up at the ceiling.
But Yang Jung paid no mind to the downpour and chattered on without pause.
“So what I’m saying is, brother—once this rain clears, I’ll go into the village and buy a net. When I was catching eels before, I noticed there are quite a few large fish in this stream.”
Kang Jo answered him in a half-hearted tone.
“Fish can be caught without a net.”
“Ah, come now. A net is far superior to a fishing line, brother. You can catch so many at once.”
Kang Jo reached toward a twig on the ground.
Whissssh..
The twig was drawn into his palm as though pulled by force.
“A twig and a fish are no different at all. The only thing that makes a living thing harder is that it resists a little more.”

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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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