Moorim Pochang - Chapter 78

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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 78. Resolve.

“Brother. The meal is ready…”
The moment Yang Jung appeared, Dok-go Yeop turned his gaze toward him.
“Sect Master. I… greet you.”
He bowed with evident reluctance.
“Go and fetch everyone. Bring all the children as well.”
‘This… man…’
At Dok-go Yeop’s words, Yang Jung turned and stepped outside the Guest Inn.
Once again, he’d been reduced to a mere errand boy.
Yet he couldn’t even bring himself to complain.
As Dok-go Yeop watched his retreating figure, something flickered in his eyes.
His appearance hadn’t changed, but his movements seemed far more refined than before.
“What martial art has that one been practicing lately?”
Kang Jo replied flatly.
“Martial art? He’s just been idling about.”
Dok-go Yeop couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
How could someone who was merely loitering have changed noticeably?
‘That… how should I describe the movement? Yes. It was like assassins concealing their presence as they crossed the ground.’
The movement was still somewhat clumsy.
Yet it was unmistakably refined.
Hm…
“Well, who do we have here? Aren’t you the Sect Master of Ma-gyo?”
An elderly doctor entered the Guest Inn and smiled.
At this, Dok-go Yeop rose from his seat and offered a respectful bow.
“You’re as unchanged as ever, sir.”
“Unchanged? I’m nearly at the age to be buried in the ground.”
“I suspect you’ll remain vigorous for at least another forty or fifty years.”
Hehehehe…
“Your words alone warm my heart.”
The elderly doctor and Dok-go Yeop shared a deep friendship.
When the Hundred Heroes had clashed with Hyeol-gyo, many of them had sustained injuries, and this doctor had treated them each time.
On occasions when the distance was great, skilled personnel had carried the doctor on their backs, racing across rooftops on Lightness Skill.
“It seems like only yesterday the Sect Master bore me on his back.”
At the elderly doctor’s recollection, the Sect Master smiled as well.
“Yes. Time does seem to pass remarkably swiftly.”
“Indeed. The years are the world’s cruelest monster and also its god.”
“How are the children?”
“They’re hardy stock, much like you lot. Your son especially—he bears a striking resemblance to you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
The expression and tone Dok-go Yeop used in conversation differed greatly from his usual manner.
His cold countenance had grown gentle, and so had his voice.
Kang Jo let their talk drift past one ear as he worked his hands busily.

*
Whoosh…
The martial artists started at Yang Jung’s sudden appearance.
They’d been astonished before by his swift Lightness Skill, but today he seemed to have risen from the very earth itself.
“A visitor seeks the Alliance Leader. He asks that the children be brought as well.”
“What do you mean by that, Yang? What children are you speaking of?”
The bewildered martial artists posed the question.
But Yang Jung had no other answer to give.
“The Alliance Leader will understand. I must return now.”
Whoosh…
With his words finished, Yang Jung’s body technique vanished as if sinking into the earth.
Huh…
The martial artists stood dumbfounded, utterly bewildered.
But there was no way to avoid filing a report this time either.
“I have no idea who these children are.”
“We should report it to the Chief Administrator.”

*

“Ma-gyo Invincible…! Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Reverence…!”
The Seong-ma Squad members prostrated themselves on the ground in unison, their foreheads pressed to the floor.
They were skilled personnel who had been staying at the Guest Inn and receiving treatment from the Doctor.
The Jamryong-hoe’s experts stared at Dok-go Yeop with astonished faces.
That the Sect Master of Ma-gyo would reveal himself directly at this inn—they had not expected it.
In the old days, they would have drawn their blades without hesitation.
But now, not a single expert reached for his sword.
Paeng Mu-ho stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
“It is an honor to meet you, Sect Master.”
Dok-go Yeop accepted his greeting with merely a nod of his head.
The Jamryong-hoe’s experts found themselves at a loss.
To offer a greeting felt awkward; not to offer one felt wrong.
“We greet you, Sect Master.”
But when even Baek Ha-yeong rendered her respects formally, they too clasped their hands and bowed.
This time too, Dok-go Yeop accepted their greeting with nothing more than a nod.
“How many set out to see the Ancestor?”
Dok-go Il, who lay prostrate on the ground, answered.
“Nineteen, Sect Master. The Murim Alliance recovered their bodies and gave them proper burial.”
“They set out to see the Ancestor, so do not grieve overmuch.”
At Dok-go Yeop’s words, the skilled personnel pressed their foreheads to the ground.
“Ma-gyo Invincible…! Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Reverence…!”
It was a truly solemn sight.
The Jamryong-hoe’s experts could not help but admire their bearing.
Ma-gyo accepted even death as glory and pride.
But then Yang Jung entered, breaking the silence.
“I have returned, Sect Master.”
The Seong-ma Squad members still lying on the ground looked toward him, and the Jamryong-hoe’s attention shifted to him as well.
As the eyes fell upon him, Yang Jung offered a gentle smile.
“I hope you are well.”
Dok-go Yeop, observing him, opened his mouth to ask.
“How far have you advanced in the Jaچheon Jeok-ma Sword?”
Kang Jo had said he had no need for the Jaچheon Jeok-ma Sword, so surely this one must be cultivating it.
At the question, Yang Jung glanced cautiously toward Kang Jo.
“I have not…cultivated it.”
“Do you also have no need for that martial art?”
Cheon Seok-pil, who lay prostrate on the ground, trembled and opened his mouth to speak.
“The Jaچheon Jeok-ma Sword…I possess it, Sect Master.”
He withdrew the secret manual from his robes and presented it to the Sect Master.
Dok-go Yeop gazed down at the manual with vacant eyes for a moment.
Why did this secret manual rest in that boy’s possession?
Kang Jo, his hands still moving in the kitchen, provided the answer to that question.
“I gave it to him, so please do not reproach him.”
The Sect Master, who had been staring blankly, suddenly burst into laughter.
Crack-crack-crack…ha-ha-ha-ha…!
None of his plans had worked out as intended, and the absurdity of it all had driven him to laughter.
“Well, he certainly has nerve. Since he gave you the Jaچheon Jeok-ma Sword, it is yours now.”
Cheon Seok-pil immediately pressed his forehead to the ground.
“Ma-gyo Invincible…! Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Reverence…!”
With the Sect Master’s approval, this martial art was truly his own.
Now there was no need to hide it any longer.
“If you encounter any difficult passages, ask him about them.”
At Dok-go Yeop’s words, all eyes turned at once toward Kang Jo.
Kang Jo’s brow furrowed, and he let out an exasperated sound.
“Why would you tell them to ask me? I don’t even know that martial art.”
The skilled personnel of the Seong-ma Squad, and even those of Jamryong-hoe, flinched in shock.
How could anyone speak so carelessly before the Sect Master of Ma-gyo?
Even in ignorance, one should have declined politely.
The skilled personnel watched the Sect Master’s expression with anxious eyes.
But Dok-go Yeop showed no real sign of anger.
“Saving a single life—wouldn’t that be enough? And if these wretches grow stronger, you’ll have less trouble on your hands.”
“Not in the least troubled, so I’d prefer you didn’t suggest it.”
Dok-go Yeop found Kang Jo deeply irritating—the way he answered back without yielding an inch, each word clipped and precise.
But no matter how much cold intent he radiated, it made no impression whatsoever. There was nothing else to be done.
He turned his head to address Dok-go Il.
“You’ve been staying here, then?”
“Yes, sir. There is a guest chamber in the back.”
Hmm.
Dok-go Yeop merely nodded.
‘Had I known there was a guest chamber, I wouldn’t have gone looking for another inn at that time.’
He had drunk three pots of wine here with his wife.
When the energy had risen urgently in him on the way back to Ma-gyo, he had hastily sought a room at another inn, but had he known there was accommodation here, there would have been no need for all that.
‘And now my wife wants to come again, but looking at that wretch’s attitude, he’ll never serve us wine. What method should I use now?’
While he was turning over such thoughts, Baek Moon-do led his skilled personnel across the Stone Bridge.

*

“Ma-gyo Invincible…! Ten Thousand Demons Bow in Reverence…!”
The skilled personnel of the Seong-ma Squad at the Murim Alliance immediately prostrated themselves as soon as they faced the Sect Master.
Baek Moon-do’s displeasure was plainly visible.
“This inn looks just like Ma-gyo’s headquarters.”
Dok-go Yeop smirked and jeered.
“Why the envy? This adulterous woman—”
“Shut your mouth, you bastard…!”
Baek Moon-do cut him off sharply, his voice rising in anger.
He was beside himself with worry.
Ever since receiving word that his disciple Moyong Se had gone over to Hyeol-gyo, he hadn’t been able to sleep.
“So your dark intentions slip out, and now you resort to curses?”
“Like some treacherous sycophant who does nothing but slander others.”
Jamryong-hoe and the Seong-ma Squad watched the two of them in astonishment.
They had never seen the Alliance Leader like this before, nor the Sect Master either.
As the two men glared at each other and murderous intent swelled between them, Kang Jo emerged from the kitchen.
“Take your fighting outside, please.”
At that, Baek Moon-do turned his ire toward Kang Jo.
“Whose side are you on, exactly? If you’re running a business in the Murim Alliance’s courtyard, shouldn’t you be taking the Murim Alliance’s side?”
Then Dok-go Yeop revealed his true colors.
“Since this wretch is being so troublesome, why not move the inn to Ma-gyo’s courtyard? I’ll build you an inn a hundred times grander than this one.”
Only then did Baek Moon-do realize his mistake.
No matter how angry he became, he couldn’t afford to show weakness.
If the inn passed into Ma-gyo’s courtyard, only the Murim Alliance would suffer.
Clear throat.
“Bring out wine and food at once.”
His voice returned to that of the Alliance Leader.
Dok-go Yeop also abandoned his jest at this point.
“The space is cramped, so sit on the floor.”
In accordance with this, Yang Jung began bringing out vegetable side dishes and wine.

*

The vegetable side dishes and wine were set before the skilled personnel, but none of them dared to drink.
Baek Moon-do, having filled his own cup, began to speak slowly.
“The first time this one and the Sect Master here faced the masses of Hyeol-gyo, we lost eight comrades.”
At his words, Baek Won-yeong and Dok-go Il, as well as Dok-go Eun, hung their heads low.
They themselves had lost thirty-five.
Baek Moon-do continued.
“But at that time, the greatest master under heaven led us. So do not blame yourselves. In the blood battles to come, the companions at your side will vanish one by one.”
Dok-go Yeop took up his words.
“As we did, I hope that after each blood battle ends, you will raise a cup in honor of those who went before. You too will triumph over Hyeol-gyo as we have.”
When Dok-go Yeop and Baek Moon-do finished speaking, they lifted their cups in unison.
At that, the skilled personnel hastily filled their own cups.
“Remember the new Hundred Heroes.”
As Baek Moon-do and Dok-go Yeop drained their cups first, the skilled personnel drank together in a single motion.
A sharp breath escaped.
‘The wine tastes especially bitter tonight.’
Dok-go Yeop lifted the bottle and poured for Baek Moon-do’s cup.
Baek Moon-do accepted the bottle in turn and filled his companion’s cup.
“The pork noodles have arrived.”
Yang Jung brought out the pork noodle dish with diligence.
Baek Ha-yeong, setting down her cup and reaching for chopsticks, asked a question.
“But who was that greatest master under heaven?”
She had heard of the master who once led the Hundred Heroes.
Yet she did not know his identity.
Nor did any of the skilled personnel know who the greatest master was.
“He never revealed his name, so I cannot say. We simply called him Dae-hyung.”
At Baek Moon-do’s answer, Baek Won-yeong pressed further.
“Surely you formed some suspicion?”
Dok-go Yeop wore a bitter smile.
“A suspicion… All we knew was that there was a great age difference between us, and the gleaming silver-white sword he wielded. When he left us, he commanded that we never seek him out.”
“He may well have exhausted his heavenly lifespan by now.”
Hahahaha…
Krkkrkr…
Baek Moon-do and Dok-go Yeop burst into laughter at the same moment.
Dae-hyung had exhausted his heavenly lifespan?
How absurd could a notion be.
“With the Half-immortal Return Movement, he watches over us from somewhere.”
“Did you not know his sword technique or martial art?”
“His swordplay was utterly free. That made it difficult to discern the technique forms. One might say it contained the essence of every sword technique in the world.”
Kang Jo listened to Baek Moon-do’s story while he prepared the meal.
‘Free swordplay… somehow it reminds me of my master.’
Yet there was a difference between the Dae-hyung of the tale and his own master.
The Dae-hyung in the story was the greatest master under heaven.
‘Could it be… No, it can’t be.’

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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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