Moorim Pochang - Chapter 74

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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 74. Blood Calamity (1).

Eek…
Yang Jung jumped backward in surprise upon catching sight of Dok-go Eun.
“I frighten you, it seems?”
As she smiled, Yang Jung greeted her in a bright voice.
“Welcome, Miss Dok-go.”
Yet the bruises mottling his face made the sight truly comical.
Ho, ho, ho………..!
Heh, heh….
In the end, Dok-go Eun could not suppress her laughter, and Baek Won-yeong fought back a grin of his own.
Yang Jung’s face reddened, but the vivid bruises concealed the flush.
‘Ah. My whole face is throbbing.’
Kang Jo, who had been glaring at him, held out a short sword to Dok-go Eun.
“Please take this.”
But she refused the blade.
“How about we arrange for me to receive it later, and instead you spar with Seong Ma Dan beginning tomorrow?”
“I am the keeper of this inn, not a martial artist.”
Kang Jo flatly declined her proposal.
Baek Won-yeong nodded subtly in agreement.
His heart wished for it, but it was something he could never allow.
Jo’s younger brother was neither a martial artist of the Murim Alliance nor, heaven forbid, of the Ma-gyo.
It was proper that he remain as the keeper of an inn.
“That’s a shame, truly. I’m quite disappointed.”
Dok-go Eun pressed no further and accepted the short sword.
As she took hold of it, a breath of relief escaped Yang Jung’s lips.
Phew………
‘That unsettling business is finally over. I must never touch anything from the Ma-gyo again.’
This incident had soured him on the Ma-gyo entirely.
Every object they had offered harbored some sinister scheme within.
‘Thank the heavens I never cultivated the Western God’s Martial Arts. I should focus on nothing but perfecting my Concealment Technique.’
While he heaved a sigh of relief, Kang Jo placed food before Baek Won-yeong and Dok-go Eun.
“Please, enjoy your meal.”
“There seem to be no other guests—join us, won’t you?”
Dok-go Eun invited Kang Jo and Yang Jung to sit with them.
But Kang Jo shook his head.
“I’ll eat later.”
“You’re always so particular….”

*

Having finished his meal first, Baek Won-yeong made his way toward the stables.
“Where are you going? Elder brother.”
Yang Jung followed after him.
“To check on the mare.”
“I’ll come with you.”
Baek Won-yeong smiled faintly as he confirmed that Yang Jung was following.
Once he was certain they had moved far enough from the inn, he drew a book from his breast and handed it over.
In truth, he had not come to inspect a horse at all—he had wanted to create a moment alone with Yang Jung.
“Keep this secret from Jo.”
“What is this?”
“The Assassins’ Secret Martial Arts Manual. It contains methods of concealment within its pages.”
It was only natural that Yang Jung’s joy knew no bounds.
“Thank you, elder brother. I swear on my life I shall never forget this grace.”
His delight was such that tears glistened in his eyes.
Ha, ha….
“I’m glad you care about me that much.”
“That’s what you call gratitude? Brother, from now on I’ll master this Concealment Technique and hide from you so well you’ll never catch me.”
Ha ha ha…!
“Make sure I never find you. You might get caught by someone else.”
“Don’t worry. I’m renovating the whole pavilion, so I’ll have plenty of places to hide.”
Baek Won-yeong wasn’t entirely convinced by Yang Jung’s confidence.
From everything he’d observed so far, Kang Jo had never failed to discover Yang Jung’s hiding spots—not once.
‘I hope I haven’t just created more trouble for myself.’

*

“Did something happen to Yeo Hwa while she was recuperating at the Guest Inn?”
Dok-go Eun glanced at Kang Jo’s face as she spoke.
“Nothing happened.”
“You still don’t know how terrifying a woman’s intuition can be?”
Kang Jo let out a scoff.
“Are you perhaps interested in me?”
He’d meant it as a way to end the conversation, but her reaction caught him off guard.
“You’re only just realizing that now?”
Ha ha…
Kang Jo matched her words with laughter.
“I can’t stand strong-willed women.”
Dok-go Eun opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“Why not? You’re stronger than me, sure, but my cooking is excellent and I’m capable. If you married me, I’d have no trouble keeping us fed.”
“When two strong people meet, all they do is fight. Go look for someone elsewhere.”
Ho ho ho ho…!
Dok-go Eun laughed freely.
This was the first man who had reacted that way.
It made her want to tease him all the more.
“I have five younger siblings. That’s why I learned hard work early, and why my manner of speaking became like this—probably. So you’ll have to understand.”
“Of course I understand. Every household has its circumstances.”
Understanding was beside the point.
Dok-go Eun was merely a guest at the inn, and Kang Jo had to treat guests properly.
Still, he couldn’t help feeling a touch of sympathy.
‘So that means the sect master had six children. Dok-go must have had her hands full caring for her younger siblings.’
Here he was, barely surviving on account of one troublemaker like Yang Jung, yet she’d had to manage five younger siblings.
Dok-go Eun wore a faint smile.
It wasn’t a false smile—it came from the heart.
“Now I understand why Baek Won-yeong likes this place so much.”
“Pardon?”
When Kang Jo looked confused, she smiled again.
This Guest Inn accepts whatever anyone has to say.
Though talking might not solve anything, at least the heart finds ease.
“Well, shall I head back now?”
She drew a money pouch from her bosom.
“There’s still plenty of silver left from before. Please, let today be on the house.”
“Thank you.”
Dok-go Eun tucked the pouch back into her clothes and left the Guest Inn.
“Do you really dislike me that much?”
“I don’t dislike you.”
“I suppose I should be grateful for that much.”

*

Yeo Hwa could no longer bear waiting and went to find Cheol-goe.
“How much longer are we going to wait? We should strike while they’re weak.”
“Dae-hyung still hasn’t shown himself.”
Cheol-goe replied calmly.
Hmph…
“Given that he hasn’t appeared by now, he must surely be dead.”
He stared at her with a murderous gaze.
“You really believe that?”
Yeo Hwa had blurted it out in anger, but she didn’t truly think Dae-hyung was dead.
Yet she couldn’t simply wait forever for him to show up.
“What if we probe the Murim Alliance first? Let’s kill off some of the sect disciples this time.”
“You think you can handle Dae-hyung alone? Hyeol-je and I will have to join forces with you. We might even need to call in Ahap or Gu-ya.”
“Damn it! So what are we supposed to do……?”
Yeo Hwa cried out in fury, but Cheol-goe remained composed.
“We should also send Moyong Se to probe the strength of Jamryong-hoe and Seong Ma Dan.”
“You’re entrusting work to that boy?”
“Hyeol-je vouched for him, so he won’t be weak. If we attach some nimble subordinates to him, Jamryong-hoe and Seong Ma Dan will suffer considerable losses.”
Only then did Yeo Hwa’s fury begin to subside.
“Fine. Then I’ll come up with the plan.”
“I’m warning you—don’t touch that Guest Inn. The moment you do, your plan will come to nothing.”
Yeo Hwa wanted to return to that Guest Inn.
Last time she could have killed that handsome fellow, but it had regrettably ended in failure.
“It’s truly infuriating. But I’ll let it slide this once.”

*

The middle-aged Geol-gae who entered the Murim Alliance went straight to find Shin Pung-gae.
“What brings you here?”
“Leader. We’ve found the residence of a man named Yang Jung.”
At Geol-gae’s report, Shin Pung-gae’s mouth curled into a smile.
At last, he had discovered the successor of Gae Bang.
If he could only persuade the parents well, Yang Jung could be brought in as Gae Bang’s heir.
“Truly? Where was the residence?”
“North of Habuk, running a small escort house. Many have reportedly witnessed a horse carrying an extraordinarily handsome young man galloping wildly past.”
“You’ve done well regardless. Save the detailed account for after we’ve shared a proper meal here at the Murim Alliance.”
“There remains an important report, Leader. The losses among our men have been considerable.”
The brightness drained from Shin Pung-gae’s face in an instant.
“It seems you still haven’t discovered the headquarters of Hyeol-gyo?”
“Correct. All the men pursuing them were found as cold corpses.”
“They are terrifyingly methodical. The old Hyeol-gyo was never this calculated.”
If the losses among his men continued, those assigned to the pursuit would begin to fear Hyeol-gyo.
“Slow down the pursuit.”
“Understood, Leader. I’ll take my leave now.”
As the middle-aged Geol-gae left the room, the Leader sprawled across the bed.
‘Should I go now? Or later?’
If he wasn’t an unfilial son, he wouldn’t refuse his parents’ orders.
Yet what unsettled him was Kang Jo.
If that man discovered he’d found the residence, it was clear Gae Bang would become his outright enemy.
“My past sins keep shackling me. I should have beaten them to death back then.”

*
“If you’re done tidying up, let’s get some sleep.”
“Yes, brother.”
Kang Jo and Yang Jung, who had entered the room, removed their outer garments and lay down on their beds.
Yang Jung, lying on the bed beside him, spoke.
“How did you always know when I was hiding?”
“Your emotions are too volatile—I can hear your breathing from ten miles away.”
“Others couldn’t tell, though.”
“That’s because I know you well, you fool. The moment I suspect this bastard is watching, your face pokes out—how could I not catch you? Besides, you’re still far off.”
Kang Jo had decided to change his approach.
If this boy learned Concealment Technique, it would certainly help him survive.
“Sleep well, brother.”
“We’ll meet at dawn tomorrow.”
Kang Jo and Yang Jung fell into deep slumber almost immediately.
But less than half a watch later, their eyes opened of their own accord.
“Get up.”
At Kang Jo’s voice, Yang Jung quickly rose from his seat and threw on his clothes.
He grabbed his sword and stepped outside, where countless presences pressed against his awareness.
Those presences stretched through the grassland and the main road, converging toward the Murim Alliance.
“They’re not approaching the Guest Inn, are they?”
“We can’t turn this into chaos before we’ve even begun the attack.”
Whiiiish……..
Whiish……..
Dark silhouettes moved at tremendous speed toward the Murim Alliance.
Kang Jo and Yang Jung stood before the wall, watching them depart.
The dark figures vanished, and a quiet silence settled in.
Yet that silence was shattered as someone walked boldly down the main road toward the Murim Alliance.
The figure heading for the Murim Alliance stopped before the forest and turned back to face Kang Jo and Yang Jung.
“Consider yourself fortunate.”
The man whose face was covered in black tattoos spoke those words and resumed his stride.
“What the hell is that bastard?”
Provoked, Yang Jung spat out a curse.
The man, who had been moving deeper into the darkness, halted his movement.
Having stopped his Body Technique, the man slowly turned around.
His two eyes gleamed with a pale blue light.
“One day I’ll tear that mouth of yours to shreds.”
Yang Jung trembled, yet he stood firm with unshakeable nerve.
It was because Kang Jo stood steadily beside him.
“Pathetic whelp.”
*

He was so exasperated that even anger eluded him.
Had it not been for the warnings from Yeo Hwa and Cheol-goe, he would have razed that Guest Inn to the ground.
Yet both Yeo Hwa and Cheol-goe had commanded him not to even approach the Guest Inn, let alone the forest in which it stood.
And his master, Hyeol-je, had even told him not to covet that Guest Inn.
Kekekeke………
“You still lack the strength for such things.”
What in the world was the nature of that Guest Inn that even his master would speak such words?
Moyong Se had not known there was a Guest Inn in this place until now.
Even when he’d returned home, that forest had been nothing but a ruin, a haunted house.
‘I want to tear that handsome face to ribbons.’
Now he could pierce through the darkness with perfect clarity.
“Remember this. My name is Moyong Se.”
He turned and resumed his stride toward the Murim Alliance.
Waaah…………….!
Kraaah………..!
From various directions came shouts and savage cries—the battle with the Murim Alliance had already begun.
Moyong Se watched the Murim Alliance from a distance.
Once, he had called that place home.
And once, he had wanted to become its master.
‘Baek Won-yeong.’
His gaze shifted to Baek Won-yeong, who stood at the vanguard of his skilled personnel.
“Truly a crane among chickens.”

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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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